The Manhattan Casino has been a cultural hub in St. Pete for more than a century. After a lengthy closure for renovations, the historic space had its grand reopening over the weekend at 642 22nd St. S, welcoming the icon back to the forefront.
Originally constructed in 1925, the Manhattan Casino historically served as a gathering space for St. Petersburg’s Black community, hosting legendary Black performers including Louis Armstrong, James Brown, and Duke Ellington. Following completed renovations, The Deuces Live District celebrated the long-awaited reopening of the historic space with a public ribbon-cutting ceremony over the weekend.
The restoration project, funded by city investment and state grants, including $1 million in state historic preservation funding, transformed the 1925 landmark into a modern, rentable event venue while still preserving its cultural heritage.
“The Historic Manhattan Casino 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.”
Grand Unveiling and Modern Upgrades
The public reopening featured an original poem reading by City Poet Laureate Denzel Johnson-Green, along with live music, speeches by city leaders, and the debut of an amazing exterior mural honoring the venue’s history and iconic musicians who performed there
Closed for renovations since 2022, the redesign now allows the two-story building to host two separate events simultaneously, accommodating up to 180 guests for seated events or 300 with auditorium-style seating.
The first floor features a new event space (the Legacy Room), a modern conference room, pre-function areas, a green room, a bar, and a catering kitchen.
The second Floor is the historic music hall and Jordan Ballroom. It received an aesthetic refresh with new drapery, a raised ceiling, and refinished floors, providing more than 4,000 square feet of flexible event space.
Make it a “Deuces Day Out”
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, attendees celebrated “Deuces Day Out” across the neighborhood with free admission to the Woodson African American Museum as part of Free Museum Day, along with refreshments and music at the Deuces Corner Park.
It was a great day for the neighborhood as community members gathered together for this beautiful moment for St. Pete.
