Voodoo Brewery on State Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, which closed in January, is set to reopen on March 7 under new majority woman-owned franchise management. The venue will retain its signature beers while introducing changes to the food menu and amenities. Managing partner Jeff Chiaramonte emphasized a focus on community events and improved facilities.
Voodoo Brewery's location at 101 Boston Store Place in downtown Erie closed in January, but a new ownership team plans to revive it as a franchise of the parent company, which brews beer in Meadville and operates other sites, including one in State College.
The reopening is scheduled for 11 a.m. on March 7. Ownership is majority woman-owned, with Wendy Chiaramonte and Christine Heberle holding 90 percent of the shares; Jeff Chiaramonte, their son and brother respectively, owns the remaining 10 percent and will serve as managing partner. "It's still going to be Voodoo Brewing, but under new ownership," Chiaramonte said. The business marks the 50th woman-owned enterprise on State Street.
The beer selection will remain Voodoo's craft brews, but the food menu will shift to feature pizza, wings, and smashburgers. Renovations, observed as ongoing on February 27, include adding a pool table and dartboards, along with enhancements to reduce issues like sticky tables. Chiaramonte highlighted plans for more live music and greater community involvement: "There's going to be more live music, a pool table, dartboards and changes to make it a more fun space with a higher focus on community involvement."
Prior to this venture, Jeff Chiaramonte worked on podcasts, served as sales manager at SFJ 4x4 in Conneaut, Ohio, and collaborated with business incubator Radius CoWork. He also partnered with Voodoo CEO Matteo Rachocki on the Jason Heberle Memorial Open Mic Competition, a free event honoring the late Erie musician who died in 2021, which will continue as planned to support local artists across genres.
Janessa Norton of Erie Downtown Development Corp. and Radius CoWork facilitated the transition to prevent the space from staying vacant, aligning with goals to revitalize downtown.
To mark the occasion, Voodoo is running a promotional campaign through March 6, posting daily riddles on social media that direct participants to local downtown breweries or distilleries. The first 10 solvers to visit the spots will receive a custom wooden 'tuit' redeemable for a free beer during reopening week.