The Sunset Lounge in West Palm Beach’s Historic Northwest District has reopened after a long-awaited revitalization, marking its 100th year as a cornerstone of jazz, soul, and community pride. The West Palm Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the City of West Palm Beach worked together to preserve the venue’s storied past while creating a world-class cultural hub.
Originally built in the 1920s, the Sunset Lounge rose to fame in the 1940s and 1950s as a premier venue for African American artists barred from mainstream spaces during segregation. Legends like Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong performed here, creating a rich musical legacy still celebrated today.
According to Dr. Alisha Winn, applied anthropologist with the WPB CRA, the restoration included a two-story expansion with a restaurant, rooftop bar, and state-of-the-art event space — all while maintaining the lounge’s original jazz-era character. Design and construction partners included Gast Construction Group, acclaimed interior design firm V Starr led by Venus Williams, REG Architects, Song & Associates, Inc., and Cooper Construction.
The lounge is now home to the Soul in the City Jazz Experience, produced by the City’s Community Events Division. The season’s final performance is set for Wednesday, May 20, featuring powerful vocalist Allison Nash with Alejandro Arenas, Patrick Bettison, Fernando Cruz, and Mark Griffith. The main concert runs 7-9 p.m., preceded by a ticketed dinner and live music downstairs with SandyJames Fine Food & Production from 5-7 p.m.