Historic Manhattan Casino will reopen September 19th as city-run event venue in south St. Pete
/The historic manhattan casino will reopen this month after a roughly $5 million dollar renovation | The manhattan casino
The Manhattan Casino, the historic 22nd Street South venue that once hosted performers including James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Ray Charles, will reopen September 19 following a $4.8 million renovation.
The City of St. Petersburg will operate the two-story building at 642 22nd Street South as an event venue, with a ribbon-cutting and open house planned for 10 a.m. that day.
The reopening returns a major gathering place to The Deuces, the historically Black commercial and cultural district along 22nd Street South. The venue will be available for weddings, corporate events, conferences, family gatherings and live performances.
The renovations include new flooring and air conditioning, along with a new lobby, conference room, green room, catering kitchen, and stage for live bands.
The first floor will house the 2,232-square-foot Legacy Room and an entry foyer with a bar, while the second floor will feature the 4,152-square-foot Jordan Ballroom, named for Elder Jordan Sr.
The new jordan ballroom, named after founder Elder Jordan, can be rented for meetings, workshops and other events | the manhattan casino
Rental inquiries are already being accepted, and tours are available by appointment through the Manhattan Casino’s website. Six-hour rentals start at $1,000, while short-term rentals begin at $250 per hour. Nonprofits will receive discounted rates.
The Manhattan Casino was commissioned in 1925 by Elder Jordan Sr., a prominent Black businessman and community leader. Over the following decades, it became a centerpiece of entertainment and social life for St. Petersburg’s Black community.
The venue hosted weddings, dances, graduation ceremonies, community celebrations and gospel programs. During segregation, it also became a stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit, welcoming Black performers who were often barred from appearing at white-owned venues.
“The Manhattan Casino deserves the respect and recognition that comes with its extraordinary legacy,” Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders wrote to St. Pete Rising. “For generations, African American musicians and entertainers graced its ballroom, creating unforgettable experiences while providing a welcoming and safe gathering place for our residents.”
Built in 1925, the manhattan casino served as a cultural hub for african americans from the 1930s to the 1960s | city of st. pete
“From elegant social events and dances to live performances and community celebrations, the Manhattan Casino has earned the historic place it holds in the hearts of so many,” she continued.
The building closed in 1968 and later operated as a pool hall and bar. In the 1980s, its former dance hall was used as storage space for a local sign and trucking company.
The city designated the Manhattan Casino a historic landmark in 1994 and purchased the property in 2002. Beginning in 2011, city officials partnered with several outside operators in efforts to reactivate the building, including a short-lived food hall in 2021.
The final operator, The Urban Collective, left after its lease expired in late 2022.
Rather than seek another private operator, city officials decided to run the Manhattan Casino as an event venue.
The reopening comes as new housing is starting to take shape around the historic venue.
The Deuces Rising Townhomes across the street are now complete, and Mayor Ken Welch recently selected Magellan Housing as the preferred developer for the nearby Commerce Park site. Magellan’s proposal calls for 126 affordable residences and ground-floor retail.
For generations, the Manhattan Casino served as a place where St. Petersburg’s Black community gathered, celebrated, and made history. On September 19th, it will again open its doors to the public.
The manhattan casino’s new lobby area, located on the first floor of the event space | the manhattan casino
