When comedian Bootsie?s was controversially ?restructured? out of his morning radio show at HOTT 107.5 FM a few month ago, he didn?t let it get him down ? he decided to fulfil lifelong dream instead.

This afternoon, the dream comes true when he opens Bootsie?s Comedy Club at 4 p.m.

?For the past ten years, I?ve had this vision about Bootsie?s Comedy Club,? said the comedian who was let go from the station along with Brother Richie. ?And I could feel it deep inside my gut.

?After being fired, sorry, due to restructuring at HOTT 107.5 FM, I decided now was the time to do it. It?s one thing that I know and I am not going to wake up in the morning and restructure my company without me knowing about it!

?But on the other hand, radio was and still is a part of my life that I would forever be thankful for no matter how it turned out. It was what I?d like to call an obstacle and a blessing.

?Sometimes we should be careful what we pray for. I could remember very clearly praying for strength and I believe God said, ?you want strength, here?s a situation to make you strong?.

?I?ve found that it?s not the situations that pull you down ? it?s how you deal with them.

?In many ways thank the Station because it kept me sharp and always thinking.?

Now Bootsie, aka Earlwin Wolffe, hopes the comedy club, located at the former Hilly?s Jazz Club at 123 Front Street, will give people a chance to let off steam.

?We are begging for some sort of release and what better physical way should we relieve stress other than substance abuse,? he joked. ?Laughter is a great relief, without the social and economic side affects.?

He also hopes the club will help budding comedians develop their talents.

?I believe there is a super star somewhere on this Island when it comes to comedy and I just want to provide an avenue,? he said. ?Some of the things planned would be things such as comedy and more comedy. There are a few other things in terms of entertainment, which I?ll speak about at a later date or let?s say closer to them starting.

?I have a host of very good friends, who are international comedians, and who are so happy for me,? said the veteran comedian, who has taped eight one-man shows, taped for Russell Simmons of Def Comedy Jam and has opened for artists like Patti LaBelle, Pebo Bryson, the Marley Family, Temptations, Manhattans Drifters, The Platters, Dave Chappelle and Bill Cosby. ?They can?t wait to come and bless the club with their style of comedy. So, there will be international artists performing regularly.

?But let?s not forget our local comedians who have been hitting the pavement for years. People like Nadanja Bailey and Jah Simmons, also known as The Two Fools.

?Now, new on the scene we have Klymax and Gina Love. You would be blown away by who has a passion for getting on the stage, people like Stuart Doyle and Bruce Barritt, with whom I had the pleasure of working with many years ago at The Bermuda Comedy Club.

?Then there is Jah Jah, Derrin Simons, Ceola Wilson, and let?s not forget about Walter Simmons who owns Monty?s. So, what I?m really saying is that Bootsie?s Comedy Club is their home.

?I must say this though, my mom who owns Babe?s Kitchen will be on board to offer some good old-fashioned home cooking, so when you feel like getting away from the fast food, and are in need of a good home cooked meal, just come on down to Bootsie?s Comedy Club.?