CLEVELAND — The style and flair of old San Juan, Puerto Rico has now made its way to Cleveland's west side as painters add the finishing touches to the future of West 25th Street: CentroVilla 25.
It's the vision of Jenice Contreras, president and CEO of the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development.
Contreras grew up at 35th and Clark, "and the whole time that I would dreaming, it was the roof of this building that you could see from the apartment."
A dream of having a place where Latinos can shop for anything they need all within walking distance.
MISSION POSSIBLE: CentroVilla25 is becoming a reality for Cleveland's Latino community
"There's a lot of Latino businesses, but they're kind of like a secret," Contreras said, "and you've got to know somebody ... to tell you where to go."
CentroVilla 25 will be that place to go. The market includes a commissary commercial kitchen, where a shop will make 900 empanadas a day. Kiosks with businesses representing several different Latino countries will sell food, jewelry, spa services and artwork.
The 32,000-square-foot warehouse is planted right in the middle of West 25th Street in the heart of Cleveland's Latino community. For Contreras, she has dreamt of this since she was 14 years old: a place where you find the impossible. She believes if you build it, they will come.
"You could do it right here in your community," Contreras said. "You could be that change and you can make dreams happen."
CentroVilla 25 will officially open its doors later this year.