There’s something powerful happening at the corner of NW 3rd Avenue and NW 11th Terrace. If you’ve been watching Overtown’s evolution, you know that every real change in this neighborhood has come from the people who know it best—the ones who grew up here, who remember what was, and who are determined to shape what’s next.
OVRTWN Corner is that next chapter.
Opening Summer 2025, this 4,000-square-foot space is being designed as more than just another marketplace. It’s a deliberate act of reclamation—a place where Overtown’s entrepreneurs, artists, and community members can build something together that reflects who we actually are, not who developers think we should be.
Led by Overtown, For Overtown
The leadership behind OVRTWN Corner tells you everything you need to know about its intentions. Trina Harris from Touching Miami with Love, Tina Brown from Overtown Youth Center, and Anthony Robinson from the Overtown Children & Youth Coalition aren’t newcomers with a vision—they’re Overtown natives with a plan. They’ve been doing the work in this community for years, and they understand what’s at stake.
“We are reclaiming space for our community, where our local businesses can thrive and our residents can connect through music, food, and shared experiences,” Trina says. That word—reclaiming—matters. Because let’s be real: too often, “revitalization” has meant displacement. OVRTWN Corner is about making sure the people who give Overtown its soul actually have space to thrive here.
Adrienne McWilliams, Strategic Advisor for Opportunity Connect, is bringing the Build From Within Alliance model to support entrepreneurs in the marketplace with technical assistance and business development resources. The Overtown Business Association, led by Executive Director Metris Batts, is backing this initiative as part of their ongoing commitment to sustainable economic growth in the neighborhood.
What You’ll Find at the Corner
When OVRTWN Corner opens its doors, expect to see 10-15 local businesses representing the full spectrum of Overtown’s creative and entrepreneurial energy. We’re talking retail, food vendors, artists, and makers—all operating in an affordable, collaborative environment designed to help them grow.
But it’s more than stalls and storefronts. There’s a café and bar for those moments when you just want to sit and connect with your neighbors. There’s event space for performances, art exhibits, and the kind of storytelling that keeps our history alive. And there are real resources—mentorship, networking, business development support—for entrepreneurs who are ready to scale but need the right foundation.
This isn’t about Instagram moments (though there will be plenty). It’s about creating sustainable pathways for Black-owned businesses in a city where rising rents and displacement have become the norm.
Built on Legacy, Looking Forward
The space itself sits in a building leased from Lion Development Group, with the Simkin Family—the same developers who helped create the Center for Black Innovation—ensuring that community-centered initiatives have a place in Overtown’s future. The building also includes 16 residential units, ideal for workforce housing that could provide affordable living options for people actually working and investing in the neighborhood.
OVRTWN Corner is being made possible by funders who understand that real investment means trusting the community to lead. Allegany Franciscan Ministries through their Common Good Initiative, The Miami Foundation through Open For Business, and the Build From Within Alliance have all stepped up because they believe Overtown’s future should remain in the hands of Overtown’s people.
This Is Your Invitation
If you’re an entrepreneur with a vision, an artist with something to say, or a community member who wants to see Overtown’s culture and commerce grow in ways that honor where we’ve been—this space is for you.
OVRTWN Corner is actively looking for businesses, partners, and supporters who want to be part of this movement. Because that’s what this is: a movement toward an Overtown where economic opportunity and cultural preservation aren’t in tension—they’re in partnership.
Want to learn more? Reach out at [email protected] or call 786.305.7979. Follow the journey at representovertown.org and @representovertown.
