HYPERLOCAL NEWS HUB BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM
The 'Melrose Place' of Cooper-Young
Daniel Wilkerson/ MicroMemphis Reporter
April 21, 2011
It’s the ‘Melrose Place’ of Cooper-Young. A 10-unit apartment complex located next to House of Mews in the heart of Cooper-Young, the 931 address is home to a close-knit, hip, and diverse group of residents.
An apartment community nestled between several businesses, the complex can be easily identified by the patio stocked with a storage container, barbecue grill and other items all essential for the perfect outdoor hangout.
"To me living at Millie's Place is like having a family," said Jonathan McCarver, a 2-year resident of the complex.
It's Cooper-Young Night Out and the residents celebrate the evening with a "Mad Hatters" theme. The bring-a-dish menu includes a smoked pork butt , a smoked pork loin, and a garlic guacamole dip.
The atmosphere is filled with sound from great rock music playing in the background, the scent of tiki torches, and three vibrant conversations.
"We are usually hanging out every Sunday and many other nights. It depends on the weather at times. We always do a 1st Thursday party each month, too. Overall there's probably a group out there 2 or 3 times a week," said McCarver.
McCarver said the other residents and he frequently hit the town together and genuinely trust each other.
Some would say the complex exemplifies the essence of Cooper-Young -- a mecca for the diverse, educated, and free spirited.
"The residents of Millie's Place are everything," said owner of the building, Glen Stoval.
A retired police officer, Stoval has owned the building since 2002 and owns three other complexes in the area. He says the camaraderie enjoyed by residents of the Millie's Place makes it an easy complex to manage.
"We must find another title for landlord," said Stoval, jokingly as he pondered his relationship with the residents of Millie's Place.
Stoval is invited to outing planned by residents of Millie's Place. He say it favorite event would be the Cooper-Young Festival where he can be found barbecuing on the complex's patio.