One of St. Pete’s most iconic buildings is getting ready for a major comeback. The historic Manhattan Casino, located at 642 22nd Street S. in the heart of The Deuces, is set to reopen in spring 2026 as a reimagined two-level event space, according to reporting by the Tampa Bay Business Journal (TBBJ).
Built in 1925 and known for decades as a cultural cornerstone for St. Pete’s African American community, the Manhattan Casino once hosted legends like Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. Now, the City of St. Petersburg is preparing to bring the building back to life, honoring its musical past while creating a modern venue for weddings, reunions, parties, and community gatherings.
The city submitted a permit application on June 10 for a $4.3 million renovation project, according to TBBJ, with a full budget of $4.8 million allocated. General contractor Ajax Building Co. is expected to begin construction later this summer or early fall.
Revitalizing the Historic Manhattan Casino
The redesign, detailed by Emma Behrmann of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, will transform the space into a fully rentable event venue with two separate floors capable of hosting different events at once. The first floor will feature a 2,234-square-foot event space, a conference room, pre-function areas, storage, a green room, and a bar, along with a catering-size kitchen. The second floor, which previously served as a music hall and ballroom, will receive an aesthetic refresh, including new drapery, a lifted ceiling, and refinished floors. That level offers 4,152 square feet of open space…