Overview: Does the spirit of Joey Ramone haunt Arlene's Grocery?
Does the spirit of Joey Ramone haunt Arlene's Grocery? BKPS met to find out.
Introduction
The Brooklyn Paranormal Society, along with the band “The Funeral Portrait” and the publication Gothamist, went Ghost-Hunting Joey Ramone at Arlene’s Grocery.
Arlene’s Grocery, a well-known allegedly haunted music venue located on the Lower East Side of New York City, has a reputation for being a haunted location. The venue, which was once a bodega and butcher shop, has hosted numerous notable performances by artists such as Lady Gaga and The Strokes since it opened in 1995.
For nearly as long as Arlene’s Grocery has been open, rumors of ghosts haunting the venue have circulated among concert goers and locals. Some believe that the ghost of punk rock legend Joey Ramone, who lived a few blocks away and was known to attend shows at Arlene’s, still haunts the premises.
After multiple sightings of ghosts reported by concert goers, we attempted to make contact with Joey Ramone. Joey lived a few blocks from the venue, and his ghost is said to wander to the premises when a spectacular show is playing.
Joey Ramone Ghost Sightings
“I saw the ghost of Joey Ramone at the Jesus Jones concert at Arlene’s Grocery back in May 5, 2021. It was so surreal. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I know some people don’t believe in ghosts, but I saw him with my own eyes. He was standing in the back of the room, watching the band play. It was like he was still alive, still enjoying the music. It was an amazing experience.”
Scott Valentine, Arlene’s Grocery concertgoer
The belief in ghosts is a personal and subjective matter, and different people may have different beliefs about what creates ghosts. Some people believe that ghosts are the spirits of deceased individuals who are unable to move on to the afterlife, and that they remain in the physical world because of unfinished business or some other unresolved issue.
Others believe that ghosts are the manifestation of a person’s imagination, or that they are the manifestation of a person’s fears or anxieties. Still, others believe that ghosts are created by a person’s emotional energy or memories, or by a traumatic event that occurred in a specific location. Ultimately, the belief in ghosts is a personal and subjective matter, and different people may have different explanations for what creates ghosts.













The Ramones were one of the pioneering bands of the punk rock movement, and they are credited with helping to shape the sound and style of punk rock music. Joey Ramone passed away on April 15, 2001, at the age of 49, due to complications from lymphoma. He is remembered as a legendary figure in the history of punk rock music. Our event “Ghost-Hunting Joey Ramone is dedicated to his memory.
What Causes Hauntings?
Whether it was his larger than life personality, or his electrifying performances causing spectral reverberations; many believe Joey still haunts Arlene’s to this day. The idea of ghosts haunting places is a common theme in folklore and paranormal belief. People believe that ghosts haunt places for a variety of reasons. Some people believe that ghosts are the spirits of deceased individuals who are unable to move on to the afterlife, and that they remain in the physical world because of unfinished business or some other unresolved issue.
Others believe that ghosts are attracted to certain locations because of the emotional energy or memories associated with those places. Still, others believe that ghosts are simply the manifestation of a person’s imagination, or that they are the manifestation of a person’s fears or anxieties. Ultimately, the belief in hauntings is a personal and subjective matter, and different people may have different explanations for why ghosts are thought to haunt certain places.
In Joey’s case, perhaps his unfinished business included his bandmate Johnny, with whom Joey often squabbled. Despite their long term partnership, Joey did not often get along with Johnny Ramone. They disagreed on many things, from the artistic direction of the band (Johnny wanted to keep performing straight-forward punk material, while Joey wanted to experiment) to politics (Johnny was a die-hard conservative, Joey an outspoken liberal). It’s said their personal problems began in high school, when the two met.
Some speculate he had the ultimate tracks waiting unreleased. It’s known before his death that Joey had started working on a record with guitarist Daniel Rey, bassist Andy Shernoff, and drummer Frank Funaro. In 2002, the record was collected and published posthumously as ‘Don’t Worry About Me’. The solo effort peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200.
Ghost-Hunting Arlene’s Grocery for Joey Ramone
In an effort to uncover the truth about these rumored hauntings, the Brooklyn Paranormal Society, along with the band “The Funeral Portrait” and the publication Gothamist, conducted a thorough investigation of the premises. The team arrived at Arlene’s equipped with a range of ghost hunting equipment, including EMF meters, thermal imaging cameras, and digital audio recorders.
The EMF meters were used to detect changes in electromagnetic fields, which some believe can be caused by the presence of ghosts. The thermal imaging cameras were used to detect changes in temperature, as some believe that ghosts can cause a drop in temperature in their surroundings. And the digital audio recorders were used to capture any unexplained noises or voices that may be connected to the spirit of Joey Ramone.
As Ghost Hunting Arlene’s Grocery got underway, the team spent hours combing through the venue, searching for any sign of the ghostly presence. They set up their equipment in various locations throughout the building and waited patiently for any indication of paranormal activity.
As the night wore on, the team began to pick up some unusual readings on their EMF meters and thermal imaging cameras. They also captured some strange noises on their audio recorders, which they couldn’t explain. These signs were all encouraging, and the team was convinced that they were getting closer to finding the ghost of Joey Ramone.
Serena, an affable retiree who formerly worked as a hairdresser to rock ‘n roll types, had a personal connection to Joey Ramone through her friend Annie Golden, who had a band called The Shirts.
Serena joined the Brooklyn Paranormal Society, along with a turbaned shaman named Kor Skeete, on a recent Monday night at Arlene’s Grocery, a dive bar and concert venue on the Lower East Side of New York City, in search of Joey’s ghost.
Arlene’s Grocery Ghost Hunt Results
After Ghost Hunting Arlene’s Grocery, the Brooklyn Paranormal Society is pleased to announce that conclusive evidence of a haunting at Arlene’s Grocery has been found. Multiple members of the team reported experiencing strange and unexplained phenomena during the investigation, including eerie noises, sudden drops in temperature, and the feeling of being watched.
















One of the most compelling pieces of evidence was a recording of a mysterious voice that was captured on a digital voice recorder. The voice is believed to be that of Joey Ramone, and it can be heard singing one of the Ramones’ classic hits.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have found evidence of a haunting at Arlene’s Grocery,” said Anthony Long, the founder of the Brooklyn Paranormal Society. “This is a truly iconic location with a rich history, and we are eager to return to conduct further investigations and see what other secrets the building may hold.”
The team is already planning their next visit to go Ghost Hunting Arlene’s Grocery, and they are eager to continue their exploration of this fascinating and potentially haunted location. Our event Ghost-Hunting Joey Ramone will occur again in 2023.
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