In 1999 when The Conga Room opened at its original location, on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, it was an idea long overdue. In a heavily Latin city like Los Angeles, it’s almost incomprehensible to think that a nightclub dedicated to Latin music, Latin culture and the Latin story - on this level -had not been championed. In 2008, the club moved from Wilshire to LA Live in downtown LA. Sadly, on Wednesday March 27, the venue will close its doors for the last time.
On opening night, salsa fans watched as legend Celia Cruz lit up the room with her classic Afro-Cuban music style, as a young Jennifer Lopez danced the night away, just a few feet from the stage. " We went with investors who had a passion. Jimmy and J-Lo are New York Ricans. They grew up with this music," Gluckstein said. Jimmy Smits, who is of Puerto Rican descent, met with us last week as well. He said he was sad to see the club close.