ORLANDO, Fla. — City District Main Street has expanded its coverage in downtown Orlando, now including two blocks north of Washington Street to its area.

What You Need To Know

City District Main Street is one of 12 Orlando Main Street programs 

Organization leaders requested to expand their coverage downtown, which added two blocks north of Washington Street to Robinson Street

The group’s executive director says their goal is to increase traffic at local businesses and create more programming for residents

Now, the organization’s border map ends on Robinson Street. The expansion adds dozens of businesses to City District’s list of clients.

A map showing the new expansion. (Photo Courtesy: City District Main Street)

“It allows us to bring in 60 new businesses, which is fantastic for us. It’s great exposure, and it welcomes new opportunities for our downtown demographic,” said City District Main Street Executive Director Michael Griffin.

Griffin said City District works with more than 1,000 local businesses to bring life downtown. City District is one of 12 Orlando Main Street programs. Staff strive to be a voice for community partners and local businesses, while planning events for residents.

Leaders requested a northern border expansion with the city, which was approved last month. Griffin believes this will benefit not just business owners, but nearby residents too.

“As we get closer to the north corridor, we’ll be able to engage more of a residential demographic,” said Griffin. “So we’ll be able to provide more family-friendly programming and get them into more local businesses.”

One of the businesses City District works with is Stemma Craft Coffee on Orange Avenue. Owner Maria Blandon created the coffee shop three years ago, inspired by her late husband’s dream of creating a business with beans from his farm in Nicaragua.

“We are here to make a difference,” said Blandon. “We want to showcase our story, our farm, because without the people in the farm, you would not get the coffee you are drinking here.”

Griffin said every year he will request to expand two more blocks north until they reach Ivanhoe Village Main Street’s coverage area.