Dudes is under new ownership and will have a Grand Opening the weekend of March 30. Partners Eric Rosenblatt and Wade Bolton, who are partners in life and in business, are the new owners of the establishment and have many new ideas for this local favorite.
Dudes is under new ownership and will have a Grand Opening the weekend of March 30. Partners Eric Rosenblatt and Wade Bolton, who are partners in life and in business, are the new owners of the establishment and have many new ideas for this local favorite.
This is the couple’s first venture in the bar business, as they both have extensive corporate backgrounds. Deeply in love, the couple wanted to be involved in a business together and were looking for a way to see each other more.
“We would get up at 4 a.m. and go to the gym and then our jobs,” said Bolton of their former work schedule. “We would be home by 6 or 7 and in bed by 9.”
“We wanted to do something fun now that we did the corporate thing,” said Rosenblatt.
The two decided that running a bar would be fun and went on to search for a place. They walked into Dudes and knew that it was the place for them. The couple hadn’t been at the bar since its former incarnation when smoking was allowed and there was a wall separating the bar down the middle. They said they were wowed by its appearance.
Rosenblatt and Bolton put their plan in motion and are now the proud owners of Dudes. They have many great ideas for entertainment and have worked out a schedule that will please all of their customers. From 4 to 10 p.m. every night, there will be live entertainment, with well-known and new singers performing in a cabaret/piano bar-style. After 10 p.m., they will become “Dudes After Dark” and their sexy dancers will come out. They are auditioning now and are choosing the best talent in the area. They want performers who can do more than shake it in skimpy shorts (not that anything is wrong with that). They are choosing dancers with something extra. One of their recent hires does “Cirque Du Soleil” style performances. They will continue the steamy shower shows which Dudes has always been known for.
“We are choosing the top 10 to 12 dancers we can find,” said Bolton.
They have a schedule all set for their nightly cabaret performers. On Saturdays, beginning March 31, Kelly D will perform. “She sings everything from Aretha to Eminem to Led Zeppelin,” said Rosenblatt. Sundays bring us Mickey Havens and Suzy Howard. Mondays, TBD. Michael Laird performs Broadway favorites on Tuesdays. Wednesdays will bring us Bill Campbell who is a fun sing-along pianist. Mickey Havens, who has had a local following for many years, performs on Thursdays. Other local favorites, Tony & Gloria, will take over every Friday night.
“We want to offer new, fresh entertainers,” said Rosenblatt.
They also have a variety of drink specials and happy hour.
The couple has also added a service for busy weekend nights- a cocktail waiter who will frequent the tables inside and outside.
And, as always, Dudes offers plenty of parking, which is free after 6 p.m.
The new owners are very friendly and easy to talk to and enthusiastic about their new business venture.
“We really enjoy meeting our patrons,” said Rosenblatt. “They are a lot of fun to interact with.”
“We want to offer a friendly atmosphere for people to come be at ease,” added Bolton.
A great time to come by and meet the new owners will be on the weekend of March 30, which will be their Grand Opening. All weekend long there will be specials like open bar Friday and Saturday nights between 8 and 10 p.m., performances by Tony & Gloria and shows by adult entertainers.
Come by for the Grand Opening Extravaganza and meet the new owners of Dudes!
Dudes is at 3270 NE 33rd Street in Fort Lauderdale. For information, call 954-568-7777 or visit DudesClub.com
INFO:
Grand Opening of Dudes
Friday, March 30 & Saturday, March 31
8 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Dudes
3270 NE 33rd Street in Fort Lauderdale
954-568-7777
