Florida music hall reopens after $4.8m renovation, 58 years after closing

The historic Manhattan Casino in St. Petersburg, Florida, has officially reopened following a four-year, $4.8 million renovation project. The two-story venue, originally constructed in 1925, had remained closed for 58 years prior to this restoration. It has now been repurposed as a city-owned event space.

During its original period of operation, the venue served as a prominent cultural landmark, hosting legendary musical performers including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and B.B. King. The renovation marks the return of the site to public use after its closure in 1968.