Franco's Lounge

September 17, 1984 was the last day & night of business for Franco's Lounge, which was located on the south end of the Cordova Mall parking lot, near the corner of 9th Avenue and Bayou Boulevard. For over five years, Franco's had been Pensacola's largest, privately-owned, live entertainment venue. This was due in part to the facts that the Pensacola Civic Center had not yet been constructed, and the Municipal (later Bayfront) Auditorium had been under alternating management between the City of Pensacola, and Escambia County authorities. During those five-plus years, many "B" and "C" circuit entertainers performed at Franco's. Most notably was The Producers, who performed four separate concerts there. Their list of original songs included such radio hits as "I Love Lucy"; "She, Sheila"; and "What's He Got (That I Ain't Got"). The closing of Franco's Lounge left a longtime void in the accessibility of a venue for fans of live rock and roll music.