Lizzie Borden Turns Up on Window at Fall River’s ‘Most Haunted’ Coffee Shop

A former Fall River Police officer has gifted Miss Lizzie's Coffee, "The Most Haunted Coffee Shop in the World," with a random act of kindness.

William Silvia, who left FRPD in 2022, is now a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

"I heard about the business opening," he said of the Second Street coffee shop, which opened in 2023 next door to The Historic Lizzie Borden House. The businesses are not related. "I'm from Fall River, and I've always had an interest in the Borden case. I decided to try to make the exterior of the building match the history."

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Silvia said he created a mock-up of the artwork, printed it out at a commercial shop in Seekonk, brought it to the coffee shop and asked for the owner, Joe Pereira. Silvia proposed that the coffee shop put the artwork over its front window.

Pereira said, "I wasn't sure I wanted it there, but the second he unrolled it I said, 'Oh my God, that's awesome!' I was so proud of it. I think it's beautiful."

READ MORE: New England's Oldest Pet Cemetery Holds Remains of Lizzie Borden's Dogs

The centerpiece of the work is the face of Lizzie Borden, the 32-year-old woman who was accused and later acquitted of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet in 1892.

The artwork was printed on perforated vinyl and custom-fit for one of the front windows.  The vinyl allows the image to be seen outside while keeping it semi-transparent on the inside, allowing customers and staff to have a view.

Silvia said he gifted the artwork to the coffee shop simply because he considers the Borden story to be an iconic part of the city.

"It's a nice piece of art that promotes the area," Pereira said.

Silvia had some big inspiration for the piece. He made it after a weekend trip to Pittsburgh to see an Andy Warhol exhibit.