The once-iconic Havana Club at the Comodoro, a nightclub that was once the most prestigious in Cuba, now lies in a state of disrepair and neglect, turning into a dumping ground. This stark reality was exposed by Cuban comedian Jardiel González in a video shared on his Instagram account.
"Look at this, my people: the former parking lot of the Comodoro nightclub in Havana, Cuba, now a massive garbage dump," Jardiel commented as he showcased the area where, during the 90s, thousands of Cubans and foreigners reveled in the finest nights the Cuban capital had to offer. "The best nightclub in Cuba is now a landfill," he lamented.
In the video, Jardiel walks through the remnants of the once-legendary venue located in the Playa municipality, which during its prime could accommodate 800 guests and featured three beverage areas. He nostalgically recalled the DJ booth and the dance floor, now in ruins. "I spent my entire youth here, and look at what's left," he sighed.
The Havana Club at the Comodoro closed its doors in 1998 as part of "Operation Lacra," a campaign by the Cuban regime aimed at combating corruption, prostitution, and drug use. Although it briefly reopened in 2000, it shut down permanently in 2001. In 2018, the government announced plans for its rehabilitation, but the site remains in the same state of abandonment to this day.
The marble-tiled floors are now destroyed; the walls are gray and crumbling, and the place lacks windows. "There must be a ton of Cubans watching this who had the time of their lives here," Jardiel remarked, referring to those who experienced the nightclub's golden years.
The Deterioration of Havana's Iconic Sites
The plight of the Comodoro is just one example of the deterioration affecting many of Havana's notable locations. Another video released this Tuesday highlights the alarming state of Parque Lenin, another significant recreational site in the Cuban capital. The park is now in a severe state of neglect, with areas overrun by weeds, vandalized installations, and makeshift homes for the homeless.
Footage shared by the JSant TV YouTube channel reveals the park's decaying attractions, surrounded by overgrowth and debris. The once-famous star, the largest on the island, now has broken glass and is being overtaken by nature. The roller coaster and the concert area are also completely in ruins, with the stage and dressing rooms destroyed.
During its heyday, Parque Lenin was considered the green heart of the capital, a symbol of childhood joy in the 1980s. Today, alongside the Havana Club at the Comodoro, it stands as a painful reminder of institutional neglect in Cuba.