This year's Halloween costumes may now be shoved in the back of closets, but a new bar will keep the spooky vibes going year-round. Southtown House of Spirits is now serving gothic cocktails and bar bites in the heart of the neighborhood.

The upstairs lounge debuted on October 31, taking full advantage of the season. The 727 S. Alamo St. building formerly housed Halftime Sports Tavern, the short-lived pizza bar from Queso Pan y Vino's Erik Rosales. The concept shuttered with little fanfare over the summer.

Although owners Hannah Brierley, Roel Garza Jr., and Derek Lyssyare are industry vets with a combined 50 years of experience, Southtown House of Spirits is their first project as owners.

Brierley tells CultureMap that the team wanted to create an intimate experience, but the 1892 surroundings inspired the concept's vibe.

"We have been daydreaming about a cozy cocktail bar for years," she shares. "The location found us."

Leaning into the eeriness of the historical building, the trio didn't tinker much with the foundation, keeping the original walls and ceiling. The team brought in period furniture and vintage details like lace doilies and china to decorate the space. Brierley calls the atmosphere "subliminally spooky."

The drinks follow suit with playful touches that add to the Bram Stoker ambiance. The initial cocktails program riffs on the classics but with playful Halloween touches. A purple-hued gin gives an otherworldly color to Ghost of Grimace, and tombstone-shaped ice cubes provide the Ghost Fashioned a cheeky bite. Vintage glassware adds to the fin de siècle feel.

The food menu, helmed by Elsewhere alum Lyssy, is more contemporary. Brierley describes the offerings as "larger, elevated bar bites," with heftier selections like charcuterie, flatbreads, and meatballs.

According to the bar's Google Maps listing, Southtown House of Spirits is open Thursdays and Fridays from 4 pm to midnight, Saturdays from 4 pm to 1 am, and Sundays from 2-10 pm. Once the upstairs bar is humming, locals should look out for another concept downstairs. Brierley says the trio is aiming for an early 2025 opening date.