Call Center Company in Miami Gardens, FL

Flo Rida is the proud owner of Cloverleaf Plaza, Miami Gardens' first Black-owned plaza.

Rapper Flo Rida wants to turn Cloverleaf Plaza in his hometown of Miami Gardens, Florida, into something special.

Flo Rida, born Tramar Lacel Dillard, along with his business partner Lee “Freezy” Prince, bought the property two years ago.

For the first time since the plaza’s construction in 1955, the property is under Black ownership and management. It is the first Black-owned plaza in Miami Gardens, Miami Herald reports.

Since taking over, the rapper has infused the area with fresh energy, positively impacting the local Black business community.

“We just thought that this would be a great staple,” Flo Rida said. “After purchasing the club, Studio 183, we looked at making an investment, buying the entire plaza.”

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

“It gives you a sense of pride and just overall feeling so good to know that we’ve come this far, as far as I’m concerned, where you can see someone who looks like you, doing good things and great things,” Vernon said.

Flo Rida, a native of Carol City (now Miami Gardens), has achieved success in music with hits like the 2007 chart-topper “Low,” featuring fellow Florida native T-Pain, and “Wild Ones,” but he’s long had an interest in business.

In 2023, Flo Rida purchased Studio 183, an upscale lounge near Cloverleaf Plaza. He also had a long-term partnership as a brand ambassador for the energy drink company Celsius, which led to him winning a landmark lawsuit for breach of contract. The rapper was awarded $82.6 million, which he has since reinvested into the city that helped shape his success.

Flo Rida and Prince acquired the Cloverleaf Plaza for $10 million through his business, Strong Arm Entertainment. The plaza is home to a bustling stretch of shopping centers, including Miami Gardens Square and the Lincoln Square Office Building.

They are among just two percent of Black people who own nonresidential commercial real estate. Just three percent of Black households own commercial properties (excluding residential), compared to 8 percent of white households, studies show.

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

“I see that they’re trying to fix up the plaza and make it a little more presentable for us and for our customers. So that’s a welcomed change,” Vernon said.

“It’s 100 percent better than before; it’s well-kept. We have security guards,” said Nicole Ward, owner of Prestige Beauty Salon. “Mr. Freezy is constantly in the plaza. So you feel safe. He’s always around. You can get to him easily with any problem.”

The next phase for Cloverleaf Plaza includes an exterior renovation featuring a fresh coat of paint and resurfaced asphalt, all while businesses continue to operate as usual.

“You might own a house and things like that, but growing up just looking at high rises and things like that, the first thing is not to think that you can own it,” Flo Rida said. “Maybe you have a spot there, but you won’t really own it. So to actually own our own plaza is just phenomenal.”

RELATED CONTENT: Flo Rida Purchases Miami Gardens Retail Plaza For $10M

The City of Miami Gardens witnessed a historic event on Tuesday afternoon as rapper and entrepreneur Flo Rida, alongside Councilman Reggie Leon, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the city's first entirely Black-owned shopping plaza. The event, held at 230 NW 183rd St., marked a milestone in the community's journey toward economic empowerment and revitalization.

The Cloverleaf Shopping Plaza, a 27,813-square-foot property, was acquired by Flo Rida in 2023 through his business firm, Strong Arm Management, for $10 million. Situated in the neighborhood where Flo Rida, born Tramar Lacel Dillard, spent his formative years, the plaza is home to various businesses, including Cloverleaf Beauty Supply, Creole Kitchen, Boost Mobile, and Top Notch Cigars & Smoke Shop. The acquisition and subsequent renovation aim to transform the plaza into a hub for Black entrepreneurship, reflecting and supporting the culture and needs of the Miami Gardens community.

The Feb. 25 groundbreaking ceremony attracted community leaders, entrepreneurs and residents eager to celebrate the event that served as not only a celebration of Black economic power but also as a commitment to fostering generational wealth in Miami Gardens. The revitalized plaza is expected to serve as a catalyst for further community-driven investments, highlighting the importance of local ownership in the city's development.

“We are definitely proud of the fact that we had some of our local people who decided to invest back into Miami Gardens,” said Mayor Rodney Harris at the ceremony. “These are the kinds of partnerships that we look forward to … It generates jobs, it generates opportunities, and it generates the possibilities of dreams coming true.”

Flo Rida's investment in the Cloverleaf Shopping Plaza is part of a broader trend of celebrities leveraging their success to uplift their communities. By reinvesting in his hometown, Flo Rida aims to create lasting opportunities and serve as a role model for future generations. The project underscores the potential of public figures to drive meaningful change through strategic investments in underserved areas.

During Tuesday’s event, kind words were exchanged between Flo Rida and his business manager, Lee “Freezy” Prince, who also participated in the purchase of Cloverleaf Plaza. The two lifelong friends acknowledged their shared mission to give back to their community.

“It was just something about him, something about his spirit,” Dillard said of Prince.

“Right from the street of Carol City High School, we went to middle school together, high school together, and we started this journey together in the music business. We’re family … and we never stopped giving back to our community. We never stopped,” said Prince.