{"id":404777,"date":"2026-09-19T18:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T18:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/404777\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T18:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T18:06:12","slug":"renovated-re-dedicated-the-manhattan-casino-rises-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/404777\/","title":{"rendered":"Renovated, re-dedicated, the Manhattan Casino rises again"},"content":{"rendered":"

St. Petersburg\u2019s Manhattan Casino was re-dedicated Saturday morning, 101 years after its construction, with speeches, a ribbon cutting, live music and a bold new work from the city\u2019s Poet Laureate, Denzel Johnson-Green.<\/p>\n

His words captured the relevance and importance of the Manhattan Casino to St. Pete\u2019s African American community during its heyday in the 1940s and \u201850s:<\/p>\n

and on hot nights when there is no reprieve<\/p>\n

and when work is done and school is over<\/p>\n

you can hear it like evening cicadas<\/p>\n

it is the distant marigold, the sound of trumpets so bold<\/p>\n

and brass and drums that give you heart palpitations, supreme strings<\/p>\n

and a piano\u2019s plinky keys \u2026 and as you get closer, voices cut through the humidity<\/p>\n

Built by businessman Elder Jordan, the venue originally known as the Jordan Dance Hall featured live dance music on weekends, and gospel on Sundays.<\/p>\n

It was also the center of activity for proms, graduations, pageants, parties and conferences.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s event introduced the City of St. Petersburg\u2019s $4.8 million remodel of the two-story, 1,200-square-foot structure at 642 22nd Street S. as a rentable event space.<\/p>\n

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Family photo op in front of the new Manhattan Casino mural by artist Egypt Hagan.<\/p>\n

In the 20th century, the upstairs room resonated with the sounds of Louis Armstrong (he and his band played there on three separate occasions), the Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Little Richard, Etta James, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Otis Redding. Among others.<\/p>\n

The Manhattan Casino also had a house band, and jazz and swing groups from other parts of the country performed frequently for community dances.<\/p>\n

It closed in 1968, and although numerous attempts were made to remodel and revitalize the venue, nothing worked out.<\/p>\n

Mayor Ken Welch, who was among the speakers at Saturday\u2019s ceremony, told the Catalyst that the 2026 project \u2013 putting an affordable event space in the Deuces neighborhood, on the city\u2019s south side \u2013 is an idea whose time has come.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople need to understand that this is not a restaurant,\u201d Welch said. \u201cThis is a totally different model. It\u2019s a community event space that can serve so many constituencies. I think that\u2019s the right model at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cnew\u201d Manhattan Casino, he added, \u201cis going to be an anchor for the development of The Dueces and the [nearby] Warehouse Arts District.\u201d He cited the numerous affordable homes, and apartment and townhome complexes in the area, that are either brand-new or are under construction.<\/p>\n

Along with the Mayor and the Poet Laureate, Saturday\u2019s speakers included Rev. Dr. Kenneth Irby, City Council Vice Chair Richie Floyd, State Senator Daryl Rouson and Celeste Davis, the City\u2019s Director of Arts, Culture and Tourism.<\/p>\n

\u201cHistory does matter, St. Pete,\u201d Welch said from the podium. \u201cAnd so, after four years of renovations, we get to open these doors once again, and begin a new chapter for the Manhattan Casino.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Upstairs at the new event space\u2019s Jordan Ballroom. This is where B.B. King, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and so many others once performed.<\/p>\n

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