Salsa dancing has been a huge part in San Francisco’s nightlife scene in the past, but that scene is changing as two big salsa clubs, Cesar’s Latin Palace and Café Cocomo are closing and relocating, respectively.
Both nightclubs have been providing salseros with their salsa fix for decades.
Café Cocomo has been open since 1994 when owner Drew Wanigatunga fulfilled his vision of creating a salsa venue for the Latin and international community.
The nightclub’s days at 650 Indiana Street in Potrero Hill were supposed to be over as of mid-June because the property on which the club had been located was sold to 650 Indiana Investments, LLC. The group plans to build residential buildings and rental units. But due to 650 Indiana Investment, LLC’s failure to get proper permits on time, Café Cocomo will remain open for approximately two more months before relocating to 2801 Leavenworth Street in Fisherman’s Wharf.
Cesar’s Latin Palace, which has relocated several times over the years, moved into the Mission District in the 1970s before settling in the Dogpatch in August of 2013, where it spent its final run until its closure on Aug. 24, 2014.
Its owner Cesar Ascarrunz, 79, has said he does not plan to open another club, and will instead focus on taking care of his seven-year-old son, family and friends.
With well-known places for salsa relocating or closing, the question that arises is whether salsa is still a popular form of night entertainment or if it’s lack of interest has led to these clubs’ relocations and closures.
Jake Jacobs, salsa instructor at Café Cocomo since 1998, partially blamed the economy. “The recession hurt [salsa],” he said. “It hasn’t been as strong, but [it’s still] very vibrant.”
Ascarrunz disagrees.
“The Latin music is going down,” said Ascarrunz. “People aren’t patronizing. The young people, ages 20-35, aren’t going to nightclubs. They’re going to concerts and neighborhood bands.
“San Francisco was the base of Latin music in the late 70s, all of the 80s, and part of the 90s. It was the capital of the salsa and Latin music,” Ascarrunz continued. “[But] salsa is gone. No more Tito Puente. No more good groups.”
Not all club owners, however, believe that salsa is losing popularity.
Roccapulco, a salsa club located at 3140 Mission St., is still open because owner Tony Orellana believes that there is still a demand for salsa clubs.
“There’s a high demand. People still look for salsa,” said Orellana. “A lot of clubs are closing, but a lot of clubs are open and catering to salsa while incorporating bachata and merengue.”
“People come to San Francisco to dance salsa,” Wanigatunga said. “These places that are closing aren’t properly run or don’t have enough space.”
A crucial factor of a successful club, especially a salsa club, is sufficient space.
Evan Margolin, a salsa instructor at Café Cocomo for 15 years and SalsaCrazy, Inc. founder, expressed his concern as to whether new salsa locations will have enough space and if salsa will even be a part of the scene.
“Will any club continue to do salsa? Plus, the size of the venues will be a lot smaller. We’re talking about places that fit like 50 people versus 800 people [at Café Cocomo],” said Margolin.
Orellana, however, is not worried about small venues or the popularity of salsa. “Many dance at smaller venues. It’s a cozy feeling at smaller bars and dance studios,” said Orellana.
“One place will close and another place will open…Music has grown so much, but clubs are closing not because of a lack of support, but because housing prices,” said Orellana. “There are [salsa] clubs and bars opening in San Jose, Belmont, [and] Oakland.”
Wanigatunga plans to keep salsa a part of his new club and have salsa music and classes from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week and salsa evenings on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays.