The History of AMA

In March 2002 Richard Alexander, Rob Merry-Ship and Sheree Alt partnered to create AMA Real Estate Group, Inc., in Northwest Arkansas, but the co-founders had developed a history of collaboration in the interest of Fayetteville's downtown revitalization long previous to the company's formation.

Alexander and Merry-Ship saw the openings of such downtown mainstays as the Walton Arts Center and the Brew Pub in the early 1990s as their cue to get involved in something excitingly worthwhile and very significant—central Fayetteville's redevelopment. The Rollston Building was one of their first projects, which consisted of converting a one-story warehouse into a stucco building with two restaurants downstairs and six luxury apartments upstairs. Completed in 1995, the building represented one of downtown's first mixed-use developments.

With the support of the community, historic tax credits, friends, family and unwavering determination, Alexander and Merry-Ship took a grand leap of faith when they purchased the Ozark Theater building from the city for $20,000. Saving the historic landmark from demolition and furthering their vision for a renewed Fayetteville, they invested millions of dollars' worth of resources to adapt the structure for newly renovated commercial space.

With two highly visible, high-risk and highly successful projects completed, Alexander, Merry-Ship and later Alt continued to grow their impressive track record to include the following reclaimed historic properties:

Campbell Avenue Terrace
The Campbell-Bell Building
Cooper House
Partridge House
The Pyeatt Building
The UARK Bowl
The Lafayette Street project
The Inn at Carnall Hall (the area's first joint private-public development)

The hometown entrepreneurs converted The UARK Bowl, a former bowling alley, into a mixed-use residential and commercial facility with an events space and 14 upscale condominiums. The UARK Bowl was the first residential development on Dickson Street, distinguishing its innovative developers as the trailblazers for downtown Fayetteville's condominium boom.

Alt spearheaded the real estate sales and marketing efforts for The UARK Bowl condos as well as for the 25 units of The Lafayette Street project, emerging as a necessary leader—the balancing stroke for a well-made partnership. Now the bold, gestural emblem of a scrawled "AMA" broadcasts the partnership among Alexander, Merry-Ship and Alt on signs throughout Fayetteville, a place where AMA is most assuredly leaving its mark.

AMA Real Estate Group, Inc.
5 N. West Avenue,, Fayetteville, AR 72701
479.443.1313 | info@amaregi.com

© Alexander Merry-Ship & Alt Real Estate Group, Inc.
Photography by Joe Wittkop and Steve Moore
Site by Mighty Creative, Inc. and Scribe Marketing, Inc.