Embracing the Dark: Horror-Themed Shops and Cafes on the Rise

In the heart of Chicago, a unique trend is taking shape. Horror and gothic-themed shops and cafes are popping up, offering a haven for fans of the macabre. These places are not just for Halloween; they are a year-round destination for those who love the dark and eerie. One such place is Jackalope Coffee & Tea on the South Side. It's not your typical coffee shop. The walls are adorned with "Night of the Living Dead" posters, and a room is painted black with a tapestry of a Victorian woman haunted by a vaporous skull. The owners, January Overton and John Almonte, wanted to bring a fun, dark aesthetic to their neighborhood. The Brewed coffeehouse in Avondale is another example. It's filled with horror memorabilia, from a "Dark Shadows" board game to a "Creature from the Black Lagoon" plate. The owners, Jason Deuchler, Nick Mayor, and Jen Lemasters, never expected the overwhelming response they received. On a recent Sunday, over a thousand customers attended a Halloween market. Loaves + Witches coffeehouse in Edgewater is a bit different. The owners, Julia Goodmann and Lisa Harriman, are practicing witches. They offer a Coven Cold Brew and a Hex Your Ex Coffee Cake. The coffee comes from Hexe Coffee, a horror-themed roasting business. The bags of coffee feature images of an eyeball impaled on a knife and a horde of demons and ghosts. Ghoulish Mortals in St. Charles is a shop that caters to horror movie fans. It's filled with collectible horror movie tchotchkes and art prints. The owners, Dove Thiselton and Warwick Price, have found success after years of hard work. The Horror House, across the street from The Brewed, sells a variety of horror-themed items. From "Friday the 13th" T-shirts to Pennywise fanny packs, it's a treasure trove for horror fans. Bucket O’ Blood Books & Records in Avondale is a bookstore that specializes in horror literature. The owners, Jennifer McKee and her partner, started the store out of a personal need. They wanted to find small press horror and out-of-print sci-fi books. Wolfden Brewing in Bloomingdale is a brewery that is said to be haunted. The owners, Katie and Krys Wolf, offer ghost hunting tours of the grounds. They've experienced plates flying and growls coming from the microphone during trivia night. Electric Funeral in Bridgeport is a horror-themed bar owned by Overton and Almonte. It's filled with coffins and a skeleton bartender. The owners have seen a mix of reactions from customers, from awe to fear. The Final Girl in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is a small horror-themed neighborhood bar. The owner, Chelsea Vecchione, wanted to create a space where she could focus on beer and Wisconsin, but also represent herself as a queer person in a male-dominated area. These places are more than just shops and cafes. They are communities for those who love the dark and eerie. They offer a place to gather, to share a love of the genre, and to embrace the horror lifestyle.