Impressed by the vibrant crowds at American Beach, a resort where African Americans could enjoy “rest and relaxation without humiliation”, Willie B. Evans, Sr. opened a small wooden club called Sunny’s Spot in 1942. As business flourished, Evans expanded his vision, and in 1948 he built a larger oceanfront venue offering entertainment, food, and liquor, naming it Evans Rendezvous. At its peak, the club hosted legendary performers such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Ray Charles.
Evans Rendezvous remained in operation until 1980. The property was later acquired by the Trust for Public Land with plans to restore it as a cultural and community center. In 2022, the Nassau County Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity received a $500,000 African-American Cultural and Historical Grant to support the building’s rehabilitation.
