Orlando Main Streets, a Coordinating Program with twelve districts in Orlando, Florida, welcomed their newest district, Parramore Main Street in February. Founded in the late 1800s, the Parramore area, along with the neighboring Callahan neighborhood, formed the heart of the city's black community in segregated Orlando, Florida. The neighborhood was filled with African, Caribbean, and Seminole Indian culture.

“At a time when communities were defined by race, the Parramore neighborhood achieved its own distinct identity, characterized by its residential fabric and its social, religious, and commercial establishments, and other institutions,” said Natasha Gaye, Parramore Main Street’s Executive Director.

During that time, Parramore had many thriving black-owned businesses. In the 1920s through the 1960s, the South Street Casino, owned and operated by Dr. William Monroe Wells, was a staple of the Black community. It formed part of the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of Black-owned venues for Black musicians during the Jim Crow era. Many jazz, blues and gospel greats passed through Parramore. Despite that vibrant spirit, decades of low investment and poor reputation kept the district on the fringes of the wider Orlando economy. As African Americans left the south during the Great Migration and desegregation opened new opportunities in other areas of the city, many businesses in the area failed and unemployment and vacancies rose.In 2019, they began a mentorship process with City District Main Street. During the mentorship, they focused on securing funding and demonstrating feasibility. Through a grant from Wells Fargo, they were able to host a day of service, schedule a mural project, and plan a new streetscape. This work proved that they had the support and momentum to venture out on their own, and on February 1, 2022, they officially became the 12th member of Orlando Main Streets.

By joining Orlando Main Streets, Parramore will receive access to much-needed financial support and resources with the goal of bringing new businesses, strengthening existing businesses, especially Black-owned businesses, and encouraging overall economic growth. “It opens it up for new and awesome things,” said Dexter Sanders, owner of local business Dexter’s Birdland, to WFTV9. “You can almost feel the energy down here.”

“Through and through I am a compassionate, service driven leader,” said Executive Director Natasha Gaye. Both of her parents are entrepreneurs, and she is excited to work alongside small business owners every day and to assist them in elevating their businesses. “This work is deeply aligned with my purpose and passion, and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to do this work each day,” she said.

“As a city, one of our priorities has been the revitalization of the historic Parramore neighborhood,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The addition of Parramore District to the Orlando Main Streets program will continue to build upon the countless successes seen in each of our neighborhood commercial corridors, create jobs and opportunities for our residents, and further our continued effort to preserve the rich culture and history found in Parramore.”

A mural titled ‘An Ode to Parramore’ was unveiled on February 23 in celebration of the new district recognition. They also awarded a micro-grant in partnership with New Image Youth Center. The grant supports Power Up Parramore, an initiative to increase access to charging stations for everyone in the community. The stations will be used by students walking to and from school, individuals that use public transportation, and/or people experiencing homelessness.

“Currently we are focused on foundation building and really telling the story of our organization and what main streets do for their communities,” said Natasha Gaye. “We are looking at partnering with local organizations to begin hosting workshops for business owners, as well as engaging our community with family fun programming. We are also hoping to purchase some historical landmark site signs to continue telling the story of Parramore.”

In the long-term, the district is focused on reducing the vacancy rate, rehabilitating historic buildings, building community trust, and activating the district through cultural events. “We would love to be known for our rich history and heritage, and we hope that people think of Parramore when coming to Orlando,” said Natasha Gaye. “We want them to experience the culture of our past and present.”