TIMES SQUARE — The famed Copacabana nightclub that spawned a song by Barry Manilow and featured headliners like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente has reopened after a four-year hiatus, according to the New York Daily News.
The Copa, billed as the "hottest place north of Havana" in the eponymous song, opened with a performance by trombonist and band leader Willie Colon in its new Times Square location Tuesday.
“We looked and we looked and we looked, and then all of a sudden Times Square became available to us and what better place could the Copa be than in Times Square?” owner John Juliano told the News.
The club has called several Manhattan locations home over its 71-year history. Most recently, it was housed at 34th Street and 11th Avenue until 2007, when the city used eminent domain to start building the 7 train extension.
The hotspot first opened in 1940 at 10 E. 60th St., hosting a slew of celebs over the years, Including several Yankees and Rat Pack members Sammy Davis, Jr. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
The storied nightclub replaces the China Club at 268 W. 47th St., near Eighth Avenue, which closed after a fatal stabbing in 2010. The new Copa features four floors including a dance club, restaurant, rooftop cocktail dining space and a VIP room scheduled to open in September, according to the News.
The Copacabana Supper Club, the night spot's restaurant, will serve updated Latin American cuisine, according to executive chef Alex Garcia.
"We're doing all the typical Latin dishes with a modern twist — kind of like today's versions of the classics," he told the News. Garcia also says that dishes will have one or two variations.
Another Copa staple, the Copa Dancers have returned.
"They specialize in everything from salsa to merengue to bachata, cha-cha-cha, you name it," said dance captain Melanie Torres.
The club is expected to have live Latin Music on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
