Uncle Lou’s Entertainment Hall (Instagram), one of Orlando’s most popular grassroots music venues, will host a big liquidation party event on Saturday, June 13, according to recent posts on social media.
The closure comes after a devastating few weeks for Cleon “Uncle Lou” Williams, who was taken into custody on May 9 by Orlando Police and agents with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco for allegedly serving undercover agents shots of liquor, then held in Orange County jail on a federal immigration hold. He was ultimately only charged with a misdemeanor for alcohol ordinance violations, but after nearly 10 days in jail, he was released into ICE custody and transferred to a Baker County facility.
After his habeas petition was rejected and bond was denied in immigration court, Williams made the decision to stop fighting his case and has accepted deportation to Jamaica.
“After spending decades building a life, community, and family here, Lou will soon be returning to Jamaica with very little in place,” an update on his GoFundMe page reads. “He will need assistance obtaining identification documents, securing housing, meeting basic needs, and rebuilding his life from the ground up.”
State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, who spoke with Williams’ legal team at the Arroyo Law Firm, confirmed there is no path forward for appeals. “Uncle Lou does not qualify for an immigration bond and has decided not to fight his case any longer,” she wrote on social media.
The June 13 closing event at Uncle Lou’s will be open to anyone who wants to show up to say farewell. According to the event flier, nearly everything will be up for auction, including the venue’s painted ceiling tiles. There will also be raffles featuring memorabilia and keepsakes from the bar, and live music from Roble Roble.
Two benefit shows are still scheduled before the June 13 event: June 6 at Will’s Pub and June 10 at the Abbey. Some whisperings on social media claim the Lou’s team will try to keep the venue in operation until the end of the month, though we couldn’t confirm that at the time of this post.
