A Warm Embrace From Electric Funeral
The Unlikely Revamp of a Bridgeport Institution
As outsiders have flocked to Bridgeport, either as a destination or a place to live, there’s a tension between the new and old. But when longtime Bridgeport resident January Overton took over the beloved local dive bar Sheehan’s, she found a formula that made the sometimes bitter confluence of past and present go down easy. The new bar, Electric Funeral, is welcoming to everyone — so long as they don’t mind a bit of morbidity with a twist of tiki.
A Deeply Rooted Community
Overton, a fourth-generation resident of Bridgeport, says she believes she beat out several other bidders for Sheehan’s — located across the street from the newly renovated Ramova Theatre and Ramova Diner — in part because of her deep roots within the community.
“The sale came from knowing the family,” Overton says. “I think they really wanted somebody from the South Side, somebody from the neighborhood, somebody who they felt would be good to their patrons, and be able to keep the place going.”
The Evolution of Sheehan’s
The 40-plus-year-old Sheehan’s, which required patrons get buzzed in the door, became Electric Funeral, named after a Black Sabbath song and outfitted in Satanic and macabre memorabilia. Overton co-owns the bar and Jackalope, a nearby coffee shop that opened in 2012, with her husband John Almonte. The couple combined their affection for horror and the occult (a double-headed animatronic goat is displayed over the entrance) with fun, fruity tiki cocktails.
Fancy Cocktails and Funeral Chic
Beer and spirits are also available, but Overton says the cocktail program really reflects her and Almonte’s personalities. Served in skull-shaped glasses, “My Cold Dead Heart” mixes Jackalope cold brew with caramel vodka and coffee liqueur for a modern (and less sugary) take on an Irish Coffee. “The Last Responder,” a spicy pineapple and ginger margarita in a tajin-rimmed glass, is the bar’s most popular drink. However, “The Resurrection Mary,” a habanero-spiked Bloody Mary dished up with a four-ounce sidecar of beer in a skull mug, gives the spicy marg a run for its money.
A Cultural Shift
The cocktail menu hasn’t changed since the bar opened in April 2024, in part because Overton wanted to give people time to discover it. The approach made for an “if you know, you know” speakeasy reputation that harkens to the bar’s history. Come November, drinks will rotate out every quarter.
A Meeting Place for Funerary and Beyond
Overton says the theme has taken on a life of its own. Not only do they cater to locals who loved Sheehan’s and drinkers in search of innovative cocktails, Electric Funeral has also become a meeting destination for funeral directors, thanks to the way the bar nods to the topic of death.
A Conclusion
In an interview December 2024, PSMag.com reported, “There is no one-size-fits-all way to respond to death, but… one thing is clear: it’s okay to be uncomfortable, to be scared, and to be sad. Electric Funeral offers a unique space for precisely that: embracing the darkness and, in doing so, finding the light.”
Frequently Asked Questions
* Q: Can I visit Electric Funeral if I’m not a fan of horror or the occult?
A: Yes! The bar is welcoming to everyone, regardless of their taste in music or aesthetics.
* Q: Do I have to know a lot about cocktails to appreciate Electric Funeral?
A: Not at all! The bar is designed to be a place for good times and good drinks, regardless of your level of expertise.
* Q: Is Electric Funeral only for rock fans?
A: No! The bar is for anyone who loves a good time, good drinks, and good company.
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