City of St. Petersburg Reopens Historic Manhattan Casino for a New Era of Celebrations
September 3, 2026 – The City of St. Petersburg will celebrate the long-awaited reopening of the Historic Manhattan Casino with a ribbon-cutting ceremony open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Historic Manhattan Casino (642 22nd St. S).
“The Historic Manhattan Casino is more than a landmark – it is a treasured part of St. Petersburg’s history and community, and a powerful symbol of our city’s culture, resilience, and legacy,” said Mayor Kenneth T. Welch. “The reopening of the Manhattan Casino honors the Deuces legacy while creating new space for arts, culture, and economic opportunity. We are thrilled to welcome the community back to this historic venue and remain committed to continuing the important work of investing in the Deuces Corridor.”
The event will include welcome remarks, the official ribbon cutting, the rededication of the Elder Jordan statue, an original poem read by City Poet Laureate Denzel Johnson-Green, and self-guided tours of the newly-renovated venue. Live music and light refreshments for visitors will be served.
The event will also feature an unveiling of a new mural on the Manhattan Casino’s exterior. Created by artist Egypt Hagan, the 14-foot x 23-foot mural celebrates the Manhattan Casino’s history, its role in the Deuces community, and the legendary musicians who once performed there.
The renovation transforms the historic Manhattan Casino into a modern, fully-rentable event venue while preserving the character of this important cultural landmark. The redesigned space allows the building’s two floors to host separate events simultaneously, with capacity for up to 180 guests for seated events or 300 with auditorium-style seating.
Improvements include a new first-floor event space, conference room, pre-function areas, green room, bar, and catering kitchen. The historic second-floor music hall and ballroom received an aesthetic refresh, including new drapery, a raised ceiling, and refinished floors, creating more than 4,000 square feet of flexible event space.
Built in 1925, the two-level event space has been a gathering place for generations, hosting everything from live music and performances to baby showers, weddings and community celebrations. After closing for renovations in 2022, the historic venue has been restored and is ready to welcome the community.
The project also received $1 million in state historic preservation funding, supporting the City’s efforts to give new life to a landmark that has played an important role in St. Petersburg’s Black history and cultural heritage.
Honoring Elder Jordan
Alongside the ribbon-cutting, the City will also rededicate the statue of Elder Jordan, which stands as a tribute to Mr. Jordan’s role in building not only the Manhattan Casino, but also Jordan Park, the city’s first public housing development created on land Mr. Jordan donated.
Deuces Day Out
Residents are invited to make a “Deuces Day Out” after the celebration. After attending the Manhattan Casino reopening, stop by Deuces Corner Park for refreshments and music, sponsored by The Burg Bid. Then, cap off the morning with a visit to the Woodson African American Museum of Florida, which will be offering free admission as part of Free Museum Day.
Additional Information
More information on the Manhattan Casino and how to book an event is available here: https://historicmanhattancasino.com/
Photos of the Manhattan Casino are available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LLrkcCKwwefHz5_nr9SSvmm-OF7oo9eR?usp=sharing
More information on Mayor Welch’s Imagine the Deuces initiative is available here: https://www.stpete.org/residents/current_projects/deuces_rising.php