Halloween Themed Pop-Up Bar Coming To Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — The people who brought you Tinsel, the so-gaudy-it's-good Christmas themed pop up bar in Philly, are doing it again, but this time it's all about Halloween.

Teddy Sourias and Craft Concepts Group — creators of Philadelphia's Christmas pop-up bar Tinsel — announced they will open Nightmare Before Tinsel this October.

The pop-up bar will take more than the 100-plus former jewelry store space at 116 S. 12th Street in Midtown Village.

Bar patrons will walk in to an eerie ambiance, have scary photo opps, sip witches "bru" cocktails and seasonal fall beers, ogle costumed bartenders, and have tons of frights and flights

The bar will feature a room of 1,001 eyes, fights inspired by Poe's Nevermore, a haunted coffin, zombie wall, custom retro ghost bar, giant spider web alley, and much more.

Costumes are welcome and encouraged.

While Nightmare plans to creak open the doors in early October, an official opening date has not been set.

"Craft Concepts Group is trading in the holiday cheer for boos, scares and frights," said Sourias. "Nightmare Before Tinsel will keep you scared all month long during October. We have been working away to bring you a brand new pop-up experience unlike anything done in a Philadelphia bar before. Tinsel has quickly become a popular part of Philadelphia's holiday tradition - and we wanted to continue to test our creativity. We also are trying to constantly think out of the box and have a little fun along the way."

Sourias and his team will convert the Tinsel space from top to bottom with scenes, images and custom art that bring Philadelphia's Nightmare to life.

Exhibits, props, decorations and photo opportunities will range from scary and gory, to ironic and funny, the retro and vintage, so clear up photo space on your phones.

The bar will be adorned with a custom bar top that celebrates the true ghosts of Halloween's past, present and future by artist Scott Johnston.

Above the main bar, in place of Tinsel's Christmas gift chandelier will be spooky specters, ghastly ghosts and other things that go bump in the night.

For a blast from the past, and a tip of the hat to Philadelphia's history, look for some Nevermore inspiration taken from tell-tale stories by Edgar Allen Poe. For the sweet tooth, enjoy a trick or treat with a cocktail inspired by candy corn, which was invented in Philadelphia.

Behind the bar, look for your favorite bartenders from BRU, Tradesman's, Blume, Finn McCools, Tinsel and Uptown Beer Garden rustling about the ruins pouring potions and seasonal fall beers. Like Tinsel, the bar will feature selections in theme, several with a take-away souvenir so you can never escape Philadelphia's Nightmare.

Happy hour specials will run on select weekdays for those who get in the true bewitched spirit of the holiday.

Music for Nightmare Before Tinsel will be curated by DJ Robert Drake, who also curated music for Tinsel.

Tentative bar hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 2 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; noon to midnight on Saturdays; and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday

More details — such as final hours, happy hour specials, full menus, and more — on Nightmare are to be revealed soon and Patch will have the details for you.