History Isn’t Just the Past—It’s the Foundation for What Comes Next
Located in Houston’s Fifth Ward, the Louis White Grocery Store is a historic protected landmark currently being transformed into a vibrant community center.
The building was acquired in 2015 by Urban HTX’s Founder and is located in Northeast Houston on Lyons Avenue. Since then, it has survived the global pandemic, been paid off in full, and received official designation by the City of Houston as a historic protected landmark. It is currently in the process of being established as a State of Texas historic protected landmark and has been serving residents of Houston and Harris County for nearly five years through various community initiatives focused on healing and revitalization.
The 3,600-square-foot building is currently being redesigned to serve as a dynamic event space and nonprofit center. Its versatile layout will allow for the creation of a small auditorium or multi-use gathering space, several offices, a dedicated meeting room, and a welcoming reception area. Alternatively, the space can accommodate a flexible mix of classrooms, community rooms, and support hubs. With the capacity to host 75 to 100 people depending on setup, the facility will be ideal for workshops, community healing programs, youth engagement sessions, and intimate events—serving as a cornerstone for revitalization and impact in the heart of Northeast Houston.
Location
4101 Lyons Ave, Houston, TX 77020
Hours
Mon–Thur 1pm–8pm
Fri–Sun Closed
501(c)3 Non-Profit
EIN: 88-1396475
Phone
(832) 661 9123
$360,000
Our 360K Goal
The 360K Campaign was launched to fully fund the transformation of our 3,600-square-foot historic building into a vibrant community event space and nonprofit center. Every dollar represents one square foot of healing, empowerment, and opportunity—fueling renovations that will allow us to host workshops, youth programs, mental health initiatives, and community gatherings for up to 100 people. This building isn’t just being restored—it’s being repurposed to become a safe haven and launchpad for change in Northeast Houston. Through this campaign, we aim to impact 360,000 lives, one square foot—and one story—at a time.
She did not set out to make history. She set out to save it—and in doing so, she made it.
Ashley Ruiz, Executive Director of Urban Healing HTX, led the successful effort to secure the official City of Houston designation of the Louis White Grocery Store in Fifth Ward as a Historic Protected Landmark. She personally invested her own savings to purchase the property—once forgotten and abandoned—after learning it held untold civil rights history. The building was originally owned by Elnora White, a Black businesswoman whose resistance against racist business practices in the 1920s led to her unjust arrest. Ashley’s intervention preserved not only a structure, but a powerful legacy that was on the verge of being lost.
Though not of African American descent herself, Ashley—a Latina woman raised in the neighborhood—chose to honor this history as her own responsibility. She recognized the cultural significance of the site and transformed it into a living space for healing and growth. Under her leadership, the location has become a hub for block parties, youth art therapy, emotional wellness programs, and grassroots gatherings, drawing hundreds of residents and bridging generations within the community.
Ashley’s work has been formally recognized by the Harris County Precinct One Commissioner’s Office and the United States Congress for Excellence in Service. Yet her impact goes beyond titles—her leadership has preserved a historic landmark, restored community hope, and built a space where history, healing, and hope can coexist.
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE ★
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE ★
“True wealth is measured not by the fences we build, but by the tables we extend. “
This deeply moving documentary chronicles the restoration of the historic Louis White Grocery Store in Houston’s Fifth Ward, led by entrepreneur Ashley Ruiz and inspired by the legacy of civil rights trailblazer Elnora White. Interweaving personal struggle with community vision, the film follows Ashley’s journey as a single mother and businesswoman who invests everything she has—financially and emotionally—into transforming the dilapidated building into a space for healing, history, and hope. Through powerful interviews, including an emotional testimony from Charles White, Elnora’s son, the film reveals the store's pivotal role in Black Houston’s past, including Elnora’s unjust arrest for confronting racism. Now a city-protected landmark and pending state recognition, the building is being reimagined as a nonprofit community center offering art therapy, emotional wellness programs, and cultural education. With the rallying cry to “extend a table, not build a fence,” the film is both a tribute to ancestral resilience and a call to action for future generations to reclaim and uplift their communities.
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”— Coretta Scott King
For the past five years, I Love the Nickel has been a vibrant, free community block party celebrating the heart and soul of Houston’s Fifth Ward. Hosted by Urban Healing HTX, the event brings families together with interactive chalk art, live music, local vendors, and even surprises like life-sized dinosaurs. Designed to spark joy, creativity, and connection, I Love the Nickel creates an inclusive space where neighbors gather, kids explore, and the community shines. More than just a celebration, it’s a beloved annual tradition that uplifts the Fifth Ward and honors the spirit of togetherness.
