St. Petersburg marked a milestone on the Deuces on Saturday, Sept. 19, with the grand reopening of the renovated Manhattan Casino and a community celebration at Deuces Corner Park. The day began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by self-guided tours of the restored event spaces. The reopening highlighted both the building’s history and its significance to the Chitlin Music Circuit, while also connecting to Mayor Welch’s Imagine the Deuces initiative.
After the ceremony, Deuces Day Out brought music, food, and neighborhood pride to Deuces Corner Park from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests enjoyed live performances by the Gibbs High School Jazz Band, Alejandro Arenas & Allison Nash, Deneen Wyman, Imam Wilmore Sadiki, and others. Lunch from Love22 was available while supplies lasted.
The event also offered visitors a chance to engage with the future of the area. Attendees could meet the development team for Burg Bid’s Historic Gas Plant District vision concepts, connect with Deuces Live! leadership and business owners, and pick up the city’s Black History Zine and a commemorative Manhattan Casino reopening poster featuring new mural artwork by Egypt Hagan. The celebration blended history, culture, and community planning in one lively afternoon.