For the first time in its history, Miami Gardens’ Cloverleaf Plaza is under Black ownership, a milestone celebrated by local entrepreneurs and residents alike.
Rapper Flo Rida, born Tramar Lacel Dillard, and his business manager, Lee “Freezy” Prince, acquired the fully leased shopping center in 2023 for $10 million, transforming it into a beacon of community pride and economic empowerment.
“You might own a house and things like that, but growing up just looking at highrises and things like that, the first thing is not to think that you can own it,” Flo Rida told the Miami Herald. “Maybe you have a spot there, but you won’t really own it. So to actually own our own plaza is just phenomenal.”
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The plaza, now a thriving hub for Black-owned businesses, houses businesses like Cloverleaf Beauty Supply, Creole Kitchen, and Flowers by Grace—a floral shop operated by 74-year-old Grace Vernon for over 30 years.
Vernon expressed deep pride in the plaza’s new ownership, telling the Miami Herald, “It gives you a sense of pride…to see someone who looks like you doing great things.”
Tenants have reported significant improvements since the takeover. Nicole Ward, owner of Prestige Beauty Salon, highlighted enhanced safety and accessibility.
“It’s 100 percent better than before, it’s well kept. We have security guards,” Nicole Ward, owner of Prestige Beauty Salon, expressed, as per Miami Herald. “Mr. Freezy is constantly in the plaza. So you feel safe. He’s always around. You can get to him easily with any problem.”
Flo Rida’s purchase came after he won a landmark lawsuit against energy drink company Celsius for breach of contract, which netted him $82.6 million. This financial victory paved the way for the artist to expand his investments in Miami Gardens, including the plaza and Studio 183, a nearby nightclub.
“We just thought that this would be a great staple,” Flo Rida said, according to the Miami Herald. “After purchasing the club, Studio 183, we looked at making an investment and buying the entire plaza.”
A study by Brookings states that Black people own just two percent of nonresidential commercial real estate.
Flo Rida, who is among this small group, said his plaza will have a new paint job and asphalt resurfacing, while businesses continue operating.
