Here’s our latest Downtown Update. We previously reported on two new venues in Wall Street Plaza. The former Hooch (and Globe prior to that) is now Rodeo Cowboy Bar, a Country music venue. We’re told that ownership of downtown’s Saddle Up which closed more than a year ago is involved in this new venture. Immediately next door is the new Rivals Activity Bar, a sports bar-game room venue in the former spot occupied by Shine (and Slingapours prior to that). La Rosa has been operating for close to a year in this Orange Avenue spot. It seems to be a Latin music venue. It’s located where The Lodge used to operate.We surely miss the fireplace at The Lodge where a televised fire always gave us a warm feeling.On the second floor above La Rosa is the new Aura Night Club. We plan to check it out as soon as we can. It replaces The Woods which was primarily a visiting/drinking establishment but no DJ’s. Apparently Aura Night Club will have DJ entertainment.Also along Orange Avenue, Lizzys was a hole-in-the-wall bar known as a place for pre-gaming since they had really good drink prices. It closed but reopened shortly thereafter without an overhead sign. There is one now; the new name is Gameroom Social Club. We didn’t see any evidence of renovations inside but we didn’t study the subject either.We previously mentioned Saddle Up which closed in September of last year in this spot at the corner of Orange Avenue and Washington Street. Something called GR (established 1947) is coming here but we could not find any information about it.Over in the bleakness that is Church Street, two more apparent closures. Irish Shannon‘s on the left, a place that tried to make a go of having live bands in downtown Orlando, is boarded-up. Adjacent was Don Jefe’s Tequila Bar and it too is boarded-up. A sign on the glass door reads “Saints & Sinners Cantina” but we’re unsure if that’s something still coming or something that’s already come and gone. Before these two spots were divided into two, the entire complex was called Antigua Night Club and it was one of downtown’s most-famous clubs. We wish they would just bring that dance club back!This spot, also on Church Street, once housed Native Social Bar and Mako’s before that. It’s been idle for more than a few years now. They had teased Go Go’s Disco would be opening in “Summer 2022” but obviously that never happened. Peeking inside last weekend we could see that no renovations ever began and it’s just one more location adding to Church Street sadness.Over on Pine Street, this was another famous club location and it’s about to see a resurrection. Allure Lounge is going to open here and it’s being advertised as a restaurant and mixology bar. We don’t know if they will have DJ’s playing but that would be a wise move sinse the last club attempt here in 2022 was called Violet Rose and it had bands playing. It only lasted a few months. Before then, prior club attempts here included Club Ice, Liquid, Zen Exotic Lounge, Deja Vu Ultralounge and Voyage.Lots of carcasses here since the turn of the century but most of us remember this address as one of downtown’s hottest clubs, Blue Room.We wish them luck! Orlando Entertainment News will have full coverage of all new venues.
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