by Sarah Green
Cleveland has plenty of places to eat, shop or hang out — but nothing hits quite like CentroVilla25. From blocks away, its colorful facade stops you in your tracks. Step inside, and you’re immersed in a Latino oasis where bright walls and bold flavors aren’t just décor — they’re the heartbeat. CentroVilla25 does more than fill your plate; it feeds the culture, legacy and community that’s been pulsing through the Clark-Fulton neighborhood for generations.
Built by The Land
A collection of Latino food vendors and makers this good doesn’t just happen by accident. CentroVilla25 sprang from a dream by one of its own — Jenice Contreras. Raised just a few blocks from CV25 and now CEO of the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development, she saw the stories, the flavors and the faces in her community that so often get passed over. She imagined a home for them in a market that’s built to last.
Since the official opening in spring 2025, it’s been buzzing — loyal locals grabbing lunch, neighbors fawning over cups of Puerto Rican roast and folks traveling to taste the flavors in this collection of Latino countries without leaving Cleveland. This cultural hub has quickly become an anchor of the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, where culture is celebrated with those who already know the story, like Jenice, and those who are experiencing it for the first time.
Every Flavor Under One Roof
Step inside and breath it all in. The first thing you’ll smell is the roast from Café Roig — rich, earthy Puerto Rican coffee that feels like throwing on your favorite fall sweater. Then there’s the birria tacos from Flying Pig: crisp tortillas dipped in warm, spiced consommé that transports your taste buds. Empanadas that crack when you bite; plantains fried just right; sweet flan glistening while the sound of music and laughter fill the marketplace. You could spend hours tasting your way through El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic — all without a passport. When you make a plate at CentroVilla25, you get more than incredible flavors; you get the stories, memories and pride served with it.
More Than a Marketplace
CentroVilla25 isn’t just for eating and shopping — it’s for building. Contreras and the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center are pushing beyond the physical storefront. Every small business here gets guidance, mentorship and space to grow. The programming ensures that once their doors open for business, they stay open, and the people behind the business are nurtured as entrepreneurs and members of the community. Let your senses wander among tacos, tequeños and arepas under the green ceiling of Mercado Verde, while Mercado Rosa with its pink ceiling peddles jewelry, artwork and collectibles — all made with love.
At CentroVilla25 you might come for lunch or dinner – but you’ll stay for the connection. When you walk in, you feel like family. This place is where ideas are shared, cultural heritage is uplifted and you get to experience the real magic of Cleveland: its people.