The Buildout Sunken Harbor Club
Dec 17, 2025
In this lively discussion, St. John Frizell, co-founder of the innovative Sunken Harbor Club, shares his journey from cocktail obsession to bar ownership. Ben Schneider, restaurateur and designer, reminisces about childhood pirate plays that inspired their creative vision. Garret Richard, the cocktail mastermind, reveals the secrets behind their tropical menu and theatrical service. Together, they explore the challenges of launching a bar during COVID and how community support transformed their pop-up into a celebrated cocktail destination.
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From Magazines To Pegu Club
- St. John Frizell left magazines to work at Pegu Club after obsessing over classic cocktail books and neighborhood bartending.
- He credits Ben Schneider and early neighborhood bars like the Good Fork for teaching him cocktail balance and launching his career.
Backyard Pirate Plays Sparked Design
- Ben Schneider and St. John staged backyard pirate plays and even built ships, which seeded the theatrical approach to their bars.
- The playful Red Hook community projects directly influenced the ship-as-bar concept at Sunken Harbor Club.
Name Created Story Before Concept
- The Sunken Harbor Club name came from a provocative, slightly creepy image tied to Hurricane Sandy memories.
- Naming created an evocative identity before fully defining the concept.