Quite a change from the "Goose"

Yesterday I set out early to do some mongering in the Paterson area, which is a rarity for me. In fact, I haven't been to a Paterson club in a couple of years. I had heard that a few Bottoms Up girls were now working at 5th Ave and/or Ragtime since BU is still closed. I went by both of them around 12:30 PM and neither was open yet. I remembered reading that the old Blue Goose had been remodeled and was operating as more of an upscale place now, but hadn't been there since the renovation. Only a few minutes away so I drove past and the front door was wide open. A guy outside with a "Security" hat and shirt was there.

As always in that area, parking was difficult, but after a few laps around the block I found a decent spot. In fact it was right next to the regular bar/restaurant place "Duffy's" where a bunch of people were outside dining, so I felt like my car was safe there.

Upon entering I saw the remodeled place and it was like night and day compared to the Blue Goose. (The change was as surprising as the old Rah-Rah's vs. Exit 11 in Orange.) The stage and bar on the left was expanded, and the back of the place that used to be a maze of doors, corridors, and storage rooms that doubled as the VIP were gone. The back is now wide open with a decent size rectangular bar and another stage/pole in the middle. Everything is tasteful, clean and modern.

The security guy greeted me, patted me down and gave a temperature check. Unfortunately, he said that for now the inside is only open at night. (Not sure why?) Directed me to a side door that led outside, up a flight of stairs, and into a patio area that was semi-enclosed with a roof and several fans keeping the air moving. Small bar maybe sits 4 or 5. A tiny stage with one of those stripper poles that's not connected at the top so it wobbles a bit. Several big couches and easy chairs with cocktail tables and ash trays where a few guys who looked like bosses were smoking cigars. Nicely decorated for an outside spot. Not-too-loud music playing and a comfortable vibe. Covid stuff wasn't enforced but there was sanitizer and free masks available if you wanted them.

Sat down at the mini-bar with a pretty bartender named Stephanie and had a Heineken for 5 bucks. Stephanie says she's really hung over from a big party they had last night with a guest DJ, the place was packed inside and out, and went till 3:00 AM. Asks if I would buy her a "re-dox" or "re-tox" or something like that. I said sure because I was interested in finding out what that meant. Turns out it's like a "hair of the dog." She opens a cold Corona, pours a splash into a glass, drinks it, then pours a shot of whatever she was drinking last night into the beer. In this case it was Patron. Cost of the "Re-dox" was $15 but I didn't mind. She was sweet and I was enjoying her company. Another dude showed up and sat with us at the bar.