Downtown Update: Lion's Pride Out, Häos In!

We haven't been over to Church Street lately so we missed the permanent closure of Lion's Pride, the soccer-themed restaurant/bar located at 123 W. Church Street adjacent the SunRail tracks. The Orlando Sentinel is reporting (link here) that Blue Star Theater is taking over the space that will include a restaurant downstairs and a bar and entertainment venue including DJ's upstairs. 

 The new venue will be called Häos on Church.  I never understood the business model for Lion's Pride. I never saw any nightlife there and it was always closed after the 10PM time slot that I'd be likely to pass by.

Most people will better remember the space as Bliss Ultra Lounge, a venue that embraced electronic dance music long before it became mainstream. And before that, back when Church Street Station dominated Orlando's nightlife scene, it was home to Phineas Phoggs Balloon Works, a discotheque.