Enduring West Side staple Fulton Street Pub & Grill gets spooky this October

Fulton Street Pub & Grill is dead serious about Halloween this October, with a large selection of spooky season events, performances and even a Dracula-themed five-course dinner experience planned. 

In operation for over half a century, the neighborhood pub stands as a karaoke favorite where the crowds’s talent ranges from wildly impressive to impressively confident. “The nite-cap bar,” as the neon sign above the chips and cigarette vending machine reads, is still a family-owned and operated business. 

“We say that since 1970, for the most part, is when my grandfather bought the original place,” said Tim Pierzchala, grandson of the original owner, who works alongside his brother Joe Pierzchala. “We have been a family business since 1970. We are not corporate. Me and my brother are third generation, so we are working on that now with our uncle, who is ready to retire. We are going to try and keep it going.” 

An increasing amount of concerts from local bands have aided regular events like Tuesday trivia and weekend karaoke nights in past years. The pub plans to lean heavily into Halloween this year with themed versions of their traditional events while taking a stab at something new. 

“Yeah we’re really trying to branch out,” Pierzchala said about the upcoming seasonal events. “Everybody here really likes Halloween. The staff is really into it.”

Kicking off the wicked week of Halloween events on Sunday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. is “A Pub Halloween.” The evening will feature three local bands performing cover sets, in addition to a costume contest. A $50 Fulton Street Pub gift card will be awarded to the first-place winner in the contest, and a $25 gift card to the second-place winner. The featured bands include Tobacco Justice, performing Green Day’s hit album "Dookie," Manichick covering Death From Above 1979 and Nightclaw featuring Big Timmy (Pierzchala) covering The Ramones.

The event will have a $7 cover and is open to those 21 and older.

While traditionally closed on Mondays, the pub will host “A Special Dining Experience ft. Dracula” on Monday, Oct. 28, from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The ticketed entry event will present a five-course meal of elevated 15th-century Romanian dishes in a decorated interior that reflects Vlad the Impaler’s castle. The dishes will be prepared by Kyrstal Palace Catering GR. 

Themed cocktails and mocktails crafted by Emilee Idalski and Taylor Cabala will be available to complement each dish. Dracula himself is set to make an appearance, played by Matt Smith. 

“Scaryoke” costume contests will be held Thursday, Oct. 31 through Saturday, Nov. 2, turning traditional karaoke nights into a three-night Halloween celebration to cap off the spooky season.