CLEVELAND — Friday was a huge milestone for the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center of Economic Development (NEOHCED).
"To be able to have a dream realized, I didn't have to go far. It was right here," CEO Jenice Contreras said. "It was in front of my face the whole time."
Contreras grew up right behind the new CentroVilla25. To see this dream come to fruition after four decades was surreal to her, as well as the nearly 200 people who came to support the mission.
The warehouse space — located on West 25th Street in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood — will act as an open market, housing micro vendors, a food hall, retailers, and live music. Plus, it will have a business innovation center and neighborhood resources.
"To finally be able to get here is beyond exciting," Contreras told 3News. "It's really a manifestation of decades of prayers and hopes and dreams coming together in one building."
But it's not just for the Latino community. Supporters who came to the groundbreaking on Friday were celebrating what they view as a right step for the city.
"I think that there's a misconception that the Black community and the Latino community don't get along or don't work together, which is a very big misnomer," Kathryn Hall, vice president of diversity and inclusion for JACK Entertainment, said. "I've been doing work with the Hispanic and Latino community for more than 20 years and when this project came along I was excited to work with it."
The official opening of CentroVilla25 is slated for April of 2024.