Flo Rida Enhances Miami Gardens’ First Black-Owned Plaza

Rapper Flo Rida needs to show Cloverleaf Plaza in his hometown of Miami Gardens, Florida, into one thing particular.

Flo Rida, born Tramar Lacel Dillard, alongside together with his enterprise accomplice Lee “Freezy” Prince, purchased the property two years in the past.

For the primary time for the reason that plaza’s building in 1955, the property is below Black possession and administration. It’s the first Black-owned plaza in Miami Gardens, Miami Herald experiences.

Since taking up, the rapper has infused the world with recent power, positively impacting the native Black enterprise neighborhood.

“We simply thought that this may be an important staple,” Flo Rida stated. “After buying the membership, Studio 183, we checked out investing, shopping for all the plaza.”

Grace Vernon, 74, has run her flower store, Flowers by Grace, in Cloverleaf Plaza for 30 years.

“It provides you a way of pleasure and simply total feeling so good to know that we’ve come this far, so far as I’m involved, the place you’ll be able to see somebody who appears to be like such as you, doing good issues and nice issues,” Vernon stated.

Flo Rida, a local of Carol Metropolis (now Miami Gardens), has achieved success in music with hits just like the 2007 chart-topper “Low,” that includes fellow Florida native T-Ache, and “Wild Ones,” however he’s lengthy had an curiosity in enterprise.

In 2023, Flo Rida bought Studio 183, an upscale lounge close to Cloverleaf Plaza. He additionally had a long-term partnership as a model ambassador for the power drink firm Celsius, which led to him successful a landmark lawsuit for breach of contract. The rapper was awarded $82.6 million, which he has since reinvested into town that helped form his success.

Flo Rida and Prince acquired the Cloverleaf Plaza for $10 million via his enterprise, Sturdy Arm Leisure. The plaza is house to a bustling stretch of buying facilities, together with Miami Gardens Sq. and the Lincoln Sq. Workplace Constructing.

They’re amongst simply two p.c of Black individuals who personal nonresidential business actual property. Simply three p.c of Black households personal business properties (excluding residential), in comparison with 8 p.c of white households, research present.

Tenants of the plaza are applauding Flo Rida and Prince for the work they’re doing to enhance the property.

“I see that they’re making an attempt to repair up the plaza and make it just a little extra presentable for us and for our prospects. In order that’s a welcomed change,” Vernon stated.

“It’s 100% higher than earlier than; it’s well-kept. We now have safety guards,” stated Nicole Ward, proprietor of Status Magnificence Salon. “Mr. Freezy is continually within the plaza. So you’re feeling protected. He’s at all times round. You may get to him simply with any drawback.”

The following section for Cloverleaf Plaza contains an exterior renovation that includes a recent coat of paint and resurfaced asphalt, all whereas companies proceed to function as typical.

“You would possibly personal a home and issues like that, however rising up simply excessive rises and issues like that, the very first thing is to not suppose which you could personal it,” Flo Rida stated. “Possibly you might have a spot there, however you received’t actually personal it. So to really personal our personal plaza is simply phenomenal.”

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