MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Houston White describes himself as a cultural architect and serial social entrepreneur.
Whether you have seen his products in Target or visited his businesses in north Minneapolis, White has no shortage of ideas.
"The beginning started in a basement in north Minneapolis. A kid who went to North High, that had hopes and dreams of being creative, navigating the realities of urban America," White said. "A young Black man that grew up when this town was called Murderapolis. And so trying to figure out... how was I going to be successful? But also remain authentic to myself, to my people, and then get paid."
As a teenager, White cut hair and realized the cultural power of a barbershop.
"It was the only institution I had ever experienced that brought together all cross sections of Black life and took the 'ism' out. No classism," White said.
White founded FRESH by Houston White in 2007. More than a barbershop, it became a gathering place to build community and culture.
"Every business that I have ever built is built from that ethos," White said.
Next, White built a small coffee bar. After George Floyd's murder, White realized it needed to be more than just a place to get a cup of coffee.
The Get Down Coffee Co. launched in 2021, in the same building as the barbershop, at the intersection of 44th Ave. and Humboldt Ave in north Minneapolis. Located in the Webber-Camden neighborhood, White calls the area Camdentown.
During the time he was planning the coffee shop, White was having conversations with Target. It led to him launching a popup capsule collection with Target. In addition, White has a line of FRESH by Houston White hair and skincare products that are sold at Target. He's also a published author. His book "Culturemaking" launched exclusively at Target.
"One of the things that I'm really focused on is, as a Black man who lives in Minnesota, there is no place that you can point to to say that that's the epicenter of Black, middle-class life. So what if Prince would have bought a block in north Minneapolis right when he was doing 'Controversy' and coming up and built Paisley Park north? Minneapolis would be a very different place," White said. "So what I'm really trying to do is make sure that the things that I am doing right now lay a foundation to... as my enterprise becomes more successful and my business has become more successful, that it benefits the community that made me."
In the same building as The Get Down Coffee Co. and FRESH by Houston White is Camdentown Flats.
"Minnesota has a really hard time retaining professionals of color, specifically young Black professionals," White said.
With that in mind, White created the nine-unit apartment building.
"This building is really an example, or a small example, of how you can create community," White said. "There's a group of young professionals that live there that have found their tribe. Then the hope is that they will grow out of the building and hopefully find housing and living community and then we'll keep it going."
The other day, a woman came up to White at the coffee shop and thanked him for what he's doing for the neighborhood. White recalled the story, paraphrasing what she told him, saying, "It's inspiring and it's cool to see that one of us is doing something that is providing hope and an example of what's possible."
White has other projects in the works for Camdentown including a pizzeria, more housing and a business space called "The Minneapolis Club of Culture."
He said they hope to start construction in the spring.