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State Theatre (St. Petersburg, Florida)

{{Infobox venue

| name = Floridian Social Club

| former names = State Theatre {{small|(1950-2020)}}

| image = St. Pete State Theatre02.jpg

| image_size = 250px

| mapframe = no

| caption = Exterior view of venue (c.2008)

| address = 687 Central Ave N
St. Petersburg, FL 33701-3625

| location = Downtown St. Petersburg

| opened = {{Start date|1950|05|01}}

| reopened = {{Start date|2021|02|05}}

| renovated = {{hlist|1990|2017-20}}

| expanded =

| closed =

| demolished =

| owner = Kevin Chadwick

| operator =

| cost =

| architect = Archie Parrish

| capacity = 800

| website = {{URL|https://www.floridiansocialclub.live/|Venue Website}}

| embedded =

{{Infobox building

| embed = yes

| mapframe = no

| ren_cost = $1 million

| renovation_date = September 2018-February 2020

| ren_architect = John A. Bodziak

| ren_oth_designers = {{hlist|Creative Arts Unlimited|ESI}}

| ren_qty_surveyor =

| ren_contractor = Boyd Construction

}}

}}

The Floridian Social Club (formerly the State Theatre) is a Beaux-Arts style concert venue in St. Petersburg, Florida. The venue closed in 2017 due to local fire code violations. It was purchased in 2018, with renovations beginning that same year. Construction was completed however the site was not able to reopen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The venue reopened in February 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.cltampa.com/music/music-news/article/21148970/downtown-st-petersburg-music-venue-floridian-social-club-formerly-state-theatre-is-now-open |title=Downtown St. Petersburg music venue Floridian Social Club, formerly State Theatre, is now open |last1=Powers |first1=Stephanie |last2= |first2= |date=February 15, 2021 |website=Creative Loafing |publisher=Euclid Media Group |access-date=October 16, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211016090741/https://www.cltampa.com/music/music-news/article/21148970/downtown-st-petersburg-music-venue-floridian-social-club-formerly-state-theatre-is-now-open |archive-date=October 16, 2021}}

In 1991, the building was added to The St. Petersburg Register of Historic Places.{{cite journal |author= |title=LOCAL HISTORIC DESIGNATIONS |url=http://www.stpete.org/history_and_preservation/docs/St-Petersburg-Register-of-Historic-Places.pdf |journal=St. Petersburg Register of Historic Places |location=St. Petersburg, Florida |publisher=Urban Planning and Historic Preservation Division |date=March 2017 |access-date=August 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828103945/http://www.stpete.org/history_and_preservation/docs/St-Petersburg-Register-of-Historic-Places.pdf |archive-date=August 28, 2020}}

History

The original building was constructed as Alexander National Bank in 1924. It was designed by Neel Reid, who also designed the Alexander Hotel in St. Petersburg. At that time, the {{convert|6000|sqft|adj=on}} building made it one of the largest banks in St. Petersburg. The bank was shut down in 1926 with the death of Jacob Alexander.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

During part of 1927, the building was occupied by the Gregory Electric Refrigeration Company but by 1928 sat vacant. The Fidelity Bank and Trust Company purchased the building in July 1929. The stock market crash in October of that same year was too much for the local economy and the Fidelity Bank, like most St. Petersburg banks, was forced to close. After Fidelity's liquidation in 1931, the building was used for a succession of small office tenants until 1949 when it was remodeled by Archie Parrish into the State Theatre.

In November 2016, the building failed a fire inspection, receiving 30 fire code violations from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. By the end of August, the venue cleared 11 of the violations. In September, the owners hired John A. Bodziak to redesign the space to comply with local fire codes. The venue booked 12 concerts from mid-September to early November.

After an inspection on September 22, 2017, the fire department stated the capacity would have to reduce from 705 to 431.{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/Amid-fire-code-violations-the-State-Theatre-struggles-to-keep-shows-_161733815/ |title=Amid fire code violations, the State Theatre struggles to keep shows |last1=Cridlin |first1=Jay |date=October 27, 2017 |website=Tampa Bay Times |publisher=Times Publishing Company |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200828095204/https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/Amid-fire-code-violations-the-State-Theatre-struggles-to-keep-shows-_161733815/ |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |url-status=live }} Despite protests from the owners, the City Council approved the occupancy limit. Seven concerts were canceled and moved to different venues, costing The State over $200,000 in lost revenue.

Bodziak redesigned the theater to increase the capacity to 590. Despite changes, the owners place the property on sale in December 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.cltampa.com/music/music-news/article/21128562/floridian-social-club-says-concert-schedule-takes-precedence-over-everything-at-st-petes-renamed-state-theatre |title=Floridian Social Club says 'concert schedule takes precedence over everything' at St. Pete's renamed State Theatre |last1=Roa |first1=Ray |date=April 15, 2020 |website=Creative Loafing |publisher= |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200828101051/https://www.cltampa.com/music/music-news/article/21128562/floridian-social-club-says-concert-schedule-takes-precedence-over-everything-at-st-petes-renamed-state-theatre |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |url-status=live }} The building sold for $2.1 million,{{cite web |url=https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/news/2018-06-29/st-petes-historic-state-theatre-sells-for-2-1m-plans-for-extensive-renovations |title=Sells for $2.1M, Plans For Extensive Renovations |last1=Roldan |first1=Roberto |date=June 29, 2018 |website=WUSF |publisher=University of South Florida |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200828095625/https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/news/2018-06-29/st-petes-historic-state-theatre-sells-for-2-1m-plans-for-extensive-renovations |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |url-status=live }} purchased by real estate broker Kevin Chadwick. It was set to reopen on September 28, 2018, with a performance by Andy Grammer, however, this did not come to fruition. Instead, Chadwick expanded the renovations for the building.{{cite web |url=https://crowsneststpete.com/2018/09/17/renovations-have-started-at-state-theatre/ |title=Renovations have started at State Theatre |last1=Bennett |first1=James |date=September 17, 2018 |website=The Crow’s Nest |publisher=University of South Florida |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200828095336/https://crowsneststpete.com/2018/09/17/renovations-have-started-at-state-theatre/ |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |url-status=live }}

Construction completed on the site in February 2020, with an increased capacity to 800.{{cite web |url=https://stpetecatalyst.com/a-landmark-reborn-the-restored-renovated-state-theatre-to-debut-soon/ |title=A landmark reborn: The restored, renovated State Theatre to debut soon |last1=DeYoung |first1=Bill |date=February 12, 2020 |website=The Catalyst |publisher= |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200828100233/https://stpetecatalyst.com/a-landmark-reborn-the-restored-renovated-state-theatre-to-debut-soon/ |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |url-status=live }} In April 2020, Chadwick announced the venue will now be named the "Floridian Social Club".{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/music/2020/04/06/st-petersburgs-state-theatre-unveils-new-name-floridian-social-club/ |title=St. Petersburg's State Theatre unveils new name: Floridian Social Club |last1=Cridlin |first1=Jay |date=April 6, 2020 |website=Tampa Bay Times |publisher=Times Publishing Company |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200828091501/https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/music/2020/04/06/st-petersburgs-state-theatre-unveils-new-name-floridian-social-club/ |archive-date=August 28, 2020 |url-status=live }} The now re-opened and remodeled venue hosts concerts for local, regional and national musical acts, as well as special events.

Design

The facade of the State Theatre is a symmetrical composition of three bays. The bays are defined by engaged pilasters expressed as a series of quoins above a projected water table base topped by an ionic capital with an attached swag. A projected cornice with a simple entablature tops the facade. Above this is a parapet divided into three corresponding bays again divided by projecting pilasters. Each of the three main bays contains a pair of ionic columns on a block base supporting a banded arch with an engaged keystone with an acanthus motif.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

A stylized bas-relief eagle fills the space between the sides of the three arches and the engaged pilasters. The original fenestration was removed at the time of the 1949 remodeling when the openings at the side bays were filled, and a new contemporary projecting marquis was added at the central bay above the theater doors.

Noted performers

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References

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{{Coord|27.77142|-82.64337|type:landmark_region:US-FL|display=title}}

{{Music venues of Florida}}

Category:Buildings and structures in St. Petersburg, Florida

Category:Music venues in Florida

Category:Theatres in Florida

Category:Music venues completed in 1950

Category:Cinemas and movie theaters in Florida

Category:Former cinemas in the United States

Category:Tourist attractions in St. Petersburg, Florida

Category:1950 establishments in Florida