West Palm Beach company a finalist to operate historic Sunset Lounge

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A company from West Palm Beach is among the finalists to operate the historic Sunset Lounge.

The lounge is in the midst of a $16 million renovation.

It used to be the place to be for black entertainers in its heyday decades ago. Folks like James Brown, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and more performed there.

Vita LLC is one of the finalists.

RELATED: A new era at the Sunset Lounge

The group tells CBS12 News it wants to elevate the Sunset Lounge back to an entertainment Mecca.

"We understand and respect the great history of the Sunset," said Darrin Cummings, of Vita LLC. "We know about the Chitlin' Circuit coming through. We understand that history and we want to continue and move it forward with that history here at the Sunset."

"It's very important, I'm a business owner myself," said Darnelle Gardener. "I just actually bought a building here off 7th and Rosemary. I'm going to have my office there. I see the importance of this community and with the Sunset Lounge and all the history, the history of the people and history of the community, this is very important."

The CRA will vote on the contract on Monday.

The Sunset Lounge is slated to open by the first quarter of next year.