Cafecito Living – Little Havana, Miami
Case Study
Three Entrepreneurs. One Empty Lot. One Shared Vision.
In the heart of Little Havana, three entrepreneurs and real estate developers from different backgrounds came together with the same purpose: to turn an empty corner lot into something useful, modern, and connected to the neighborhood.
That shared vision became Cafecito Living.
Located at 1158 NW 6th Street, the project transformed an empty lot into a boutique 3-story mixed-use building featuring 17 market-rate residential studios and a ground-floor café space inspired by Little Havana’s iconic coffee culture.
From the beginning, the vision was simple: build a place where people could live, meet, work, and connect.
The original plans were modified to include a commercial café space on the first floor, creating what would become the true heart of the project. Inspired by Little Havana’s famous «ventanita» culture, the space was designed to bring energy, conversation, and community to the corner.
The location itself made the opportunity unique:
- Prime corner visibility on a major Miami corridor
- Over 27,500 vehicles passing daily
- Directly across from two major schools
- Walkable access to East Little Havana and Downtown Miami
The ground-floor café was planned as more than a retail tenant. It was meant to serve the residents upstairs, the schools across the street, daily commuters, and the surrounding neighborhood — a natural stop for coffee, breakfast, and everyday connection.
Upstairs, the 17 market-rate studios were designed for Miami residents seeking efficient, connected urban living in one of the city’s most culturally vibrant neighborhoods.
Today, Cafecito Living is ready to welcome its first residents, with the café operator already secured and positioned to bring the ground-floor vision to life.
What was once an empty lot is now becoming new housing, new business, and a new gathering place for the community.
Cafecito Living reflects the kind of projects Venetrust looks for and invests in: overlooked opportunities that can be transformed into places with purpose, identity, and long-term value.
