Behind Door Number 2

This review is tardy. I came to Bogarts from Henry 8 North on a Tuesday afternoon after finding only one, maybe two, entertainers at HN8 and neither of the dancers were at all interesting. From H8N, Bogarts is only a mile away and if you ask the doorman when leaving, you can get a free pass to Bogarts (or vice versa) as they share ownership, pricing and policies. Specifically, both places have free parking lots that are sorely in need of maintenance, but otherwise safe and under closed circuit cameras. Both places charge $5 entry and then give you a ticket that must be presented to the waitress and serves as evidence that you have made the mandatory one drink purchase. Pricing on drinks seems to be the same in both places, $7 for a beer of whatever type, import or domestic. They run periodic drink specials, but you can not use a drink special as your mandatory drink. Both places allow smoking and many take advantage of that opportunity, so expect to smell like an ashtray after leaving. Both places charge $10 to visit the VIP and you can make multiple visits for that one $10 payment.

Enough about the facilities, this is a report on my Tuesday afternoon visit that happened after striking out at H8N and making a quick exit from there. It is close to 4pm by the time I get to Bogarts which is important because prior to the Governor’s loosening of the curfew, shift change occurred at 5pm (rather than 7pm). Close to shift change, you often get gals that have decided they made enough money for the day and are content having a regular buy them a few drinks before they can exit the building and you get the desperate ones who have had no success and are willing to make a deal. As you would expect, those in the first category are generally much more attractive than those in the latter. I knew my picking would be slim giving my timing, but to my surprise I was approached rather quickly by a very attractive young Black girl who sat down and chatted me up. She asked me to order her a drink, which I always indulge and here the ladies’ drink are not some ridiculous price. I believe I paid $8 for my guest’s mixed drink. She proceeds to tell me she is in college and has a book fee of $186 due tomorrow. That turned out to be her asking price (rounded up of course) for even the most basic of extras. I was willing to stretch the usual price by maybe $20, but I was not going to $200 at Bogarts. She got indignant and huffed off. I was glad I held the line when a short time later she was called to the stage and she literally stood near the pole, pulled her top down as required for songs 3-4 and looked at her Apple Watch. Undoubtedly, service in VIP would have been just as lackluster. I was then approached by an older ethnic dancer that is well known on this board, with a two name stage name. I had not travelled upstairs to the vip w her before and when she quickly agreed to the standard fee, we went upstairs. Service once there was rushed, but effective. I would only repeat in a pinch and with better negotiations in advance to reach agreement on what was expected behind the curtain.

Overall, about what I expected from this down scale, friendly neighborhood-like club. I always enter willing to call it a success just to see some boobs and drink a beer, even if I don’t make a trip to the VIP. With those expectations, it is hard to be disappointed as long as there are enough entertainers working the room.