St Petersburg’s historic Manhattan Casino reopened on Saturday, 58 years after it closed, following a four-year renovation of the 101-year-old building.
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it → reopen → building
According to St Pete Catalyst, the city has spent $4.8 million on the two-storey property, which will now operate as a rentable event space in the Deuces neighbourhood.
uncertain
which → accord → neighbourhood
Built in 1925 by Black businessman Elder Jordan, the venue was originally known as the Jordan Dance Hall and served as a major entertainment centre for the city’s African American community.
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venue → build → community
It hosted live dance music on weekends and gospel performances on Sundays.
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It → host → Sundays
The building also became a venue for proms, graduations, pageants, parties and conferences.
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building → become → proms
Its upstairs music hall later became known for performances by some of the biggest names in American music.
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hall → know → music
Louis Armstrong and his band performed there three times.
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Armstrong → perform → ?
Other musicians who appeared at the venue included the Count Basie Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald,
Ray Charles, B B King, Little Richard, Etta James, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Otis Redding.
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who → appear → Charles
The Manhattan Casino was part of The Deuces, a business district that became an important centre for St Petersburg’s African American community during segregation.
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that → become → segregation
The venue was also part of the Chitlin’ Circuit, a network of Black-owned venues across the southern United States where Black musicians could perform.
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musicians → own → States
The building became especially active during the 1940s and 1950s.
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building → become → 1940s
Along with visiting performers, it had its own house band, while jazz and swing groups from other parts of the country regularly played for community dances.
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groups → visit → dances
The history of the building was reflected upon during the reopening.
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history → reflect → reopening
St Petersburg Poet Laureate Denzel Johnson-Green recited his poem, “The Get Down, the Boogie, and the Hope of Sweat”, describing the sounds that once came from the venue.
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that → recite → venue
The venue eventually closed in 1968.
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venue → close → 1968
Several efforts were later made to remodel and revitalise the property, but those attempts did not result in its reopening.
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attempts → make → reopening
Louis Armstrong and his band performed there three times at the venue.
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Armstrong → perform → venue
Renovation brings new life
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Renovation → bring → life
The latest project has transformed the historic building into a city-owned event space.
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project → transform → space
The two-storey structure covers 12,000 square feet and is located at 642 22nd Street S.
The renovation included changes to both floors.
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renovation → cover → floors
A new first-floor event space was added, along with a conference room, green room, bar and kitchen.
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space → add → room
The second-floor music hall and ballroom, where many of the famous performers once appeared, also received upgrades.
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hall → appear → upgrades
The floors were refinished, the ceiling was raised and new drapery was installed.
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drapery → refinish → ?
The restored Jordan Ballroom now forms part of the event space.
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Ballroom → restore → space
It is the same upstairs room associated with performances by Armstrong, Fitzgerald, Charles and King, among others.
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It → associate → others
A new mural by artist Egypt Hagan has also been added to the property, giving the renovated building a new visual feature while retaining its connection with its past.
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mural → add → past
A new community space
St Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said the renovated building is intended to serve different groups in the community.
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building → say → community
It’s a community event space that can serve so many constituencies.
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that → ’ → constituencies
I think that’s the right model at the right time," Welch said at the event.
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Welch → think → event
Welch also said the reopened Manhattan Casino would serve as an anchor for the development of The Deuces and the nearby Warehouse Arts District.
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Casino → say → Deuces
For Welch, the reopening also marked the return of a building that has remained part of the city’s history despite being closed for decades.
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that → mark → decades
“History does matter, St. Pete,” Welch said during the ceremony.
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Welch → matter → ceremony
“And so, after four years of renovations, we get to open these doors once again, and begin a new chapter for the Manhattan Casino.”
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we → get → Casino
The Aporia
