04/02/2025
With profound sadness, we must announce the closure of
1UP Orlando and HighT Orlando.
This is not the ending we had envisioned. For years, we poured our hearts, souls, and dreams into creating something truly special—a space where imagination ran wild, where reality melted away, and where magic lived in every corner. But despite our passion and relentless fight to keep these dreams alive, the overwhelming financial strain of operating in Downtown Orlando with the restrictions placed on nightlife including the fees from After Midnight Alcohol Sales Permit (AMS), coupled with the decline of Church Street, has left us with no choice but to say goodbye.
From the very beginning, our mission was to create immersive, artistic spaces where visitors could escape reality, connect, and make unforgettable memories.
We tried. We tried everything. We adapted, we restructured, we fought against the tide, but in the end, the weight of insurmountable costs and unforeseen challenges proved too much to bear. Our plans for Outer Rim Tiki Cabaret & Society were met with ever-changing requirements, forcing us to sink deeper into debt in an effort to comply. What was meant to be a new beginning instead became an uphill battle that we could no longer sustain and put a strain on all of our existing concepts.
To our amazing and talented staff and those who laughed, danced, and lost themselves in our worlds—to those who stepped inside the Barbie Dream House at 1UP or tumbled down the Rabbit Hole at HighT—please know that you were the heartbeat of these spaces. Every moment, every memory, every connection made within our walls meant everything to us. Without you, none of this would have been possible.
While this chapter ends in heartbreak, Cocktails & Screams remains open, and now, more than ever, we need your support to keep our spooky haven alive and thriving.
This is not just the loss of a business. It is the loss of a dream, of a vision, of a place where so many found joy. But dreams never truly die—they evolve, they find new homes, they wait for the right moment to rise again.
Thank you for the memories, the laughter, and the unforgettable nights. This may be the end of one journey, but we hope to see you again—
