No Jersey City club had a better name than The Dopeness, a little restaurant and performance venue on Second Street off Newark Ave that served kitschy food and entertainment that ran the gamut from stand-up comedy to jams and slams. Then, suddenly The Dopeness sign came down and a new sign went up for The Citizen. Run by the same team – Anthony Gude and Stephen Schlat – (minus one original partner) The Citizen has what The Dopeness never had: a liquor license.
Now, visitors who stop by The Citizen can order a Colt 45 and a shot of “Jaimoâ€, 16-year old Single Malt Scotch, or The Grateful Dead and Moscow Mule – drinks that get squirted into the glass by way of nitro fusion. After one of those you may forget all about The Dopeness and welcome The Citizen with open arms.
 Imagine Kanye West and his entourage blowing into Jersey City to check out its club scene. That’s exactly what happened on Feb. 11th when West made a surprise visit to The Dopeness on Second Street. The rapper stopped by The Dopeness to check out the club’s vibe and according to owners Anthony Gude, Steven Schlatmann and Jonathan Scanlon, West sat and listened to the band on stage, shook hands with fans and then blew out the door with his entourage. He connected with The Dopeness and that’s exactly what Gude, Schlatmann and Scanlon want as the take-away for all their customers.
The Dopeness owners Anthony Gude, Jonathan Scanlon and Steven Schlatmann
With a pending liquor license, it’s BYOB at The Dopeness. They offer a kooky menu of comfort foods – much of it bacon-wrapped – and entertainment that’s anything goes. And, of course, that dopeness vibe.
“We’re like a local arts venue,†Schlatmann says. “Some artists are good at what they do. We host them to build their networks. The Jersey City artist community is a big supporter.â€
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