The theater has a long history and was a major venue for punk and hardcore acts beginning in 1985, when Richard Shelter struck a deal with owner Zori Hayon to book shows there.

In 1986, with the help of iconic Miami figure Richard Shelter, the building was transformed into a music venue, booking numerous punk acts big and small, both from the local scene and from overseas.

[1][3] Zori Hayon closed the Cameo in late 1989 for renovations and reopened it in March 1990 with a concert by the Sugarcubes.

[1] Around this time, however, the theater began to host more electronic-themed music shows and eventually became a disco dance club.

In 1999, it was closed again for renovations and later reopened, no longer as a music venue but newly rebranded as Cameo Nightclub.