New Common Good Cocktail House in Glen Ellyn to offer specialty cocktails

GLEN ELLYN – The owners of Common Good Cocktail House hope those who enter the cocktail lounge and boutique spirit shop will feel right at home.

"We want this space to be an extension of our living room," said Chad Hauge, one of the co-owners of Common Good. "It's about bringing people to the space and giving strangers a spot to sit next to each other and enjoy a drink together."

To create that sense of togetherness, the furniture inside the establishment includes a 17-foot-long upholstered bench. Chad Hauge co-owns the establishment with his wife, Alicia Hauge, who also serves as director of operations for Common Good. Mike Melazzo is another co-owner.

Common Good is at 560 Crescent Blvd. in downtown Glen Ellyn, across the street from the Metra train station. It is expected to open Sept. 15.

They tried out their concept in July 2017 during a pop-up experience at The Beer Cellar in downtown Glen Ellyn, and Melazzo said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

"I think it reminded me of the kind of improvisational and very intimate nature of good bartending," he said. "The most fun part of the night was just letting people know that I could talk to them about what they were in the mood for, what their palate was, and we could go off menu."

All three have extensive experience in the food and beverage industry. Chad Hauge has served as beverage director for the well-received Longman & Eagle restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood and designed drinks for bars from New York City to Chicago, and his cocktails have been poured for Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks games. His work also has been featured in Vanity Fair and Wine Enthusiast magazines.

Melazzo spent four years as beverage director at the esteemed Mott St. restaurant in Wicker Park and developed drinks with and for Chicago-based Beam-Suntory beverage company and establishments such as Hopewell Brewing in Chicago. Alicia Hauge has a background as catering and events manager at Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits in Chicago, barista at Intelligentsia Coffee & Tea, project manager at Low Res Studio in Chicago and social media strategist at Mott St.

They also have ties to the area. Melazzo is a 2003 graduate of Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, and Chad Hague is a 2006 Wheaton College graduate.

Along with being a cocktail lounge, the establishment will serve as a boutique spirit shop. However, the co-owners plan to offer more personal service than found at your typical store.

"It won't be like your typical retail store where you just come in and look through shelves yourself," Melazzo said. "It's more like you come in, and you get to talk directly with bartenders who use the stuff every day and are familiar with it."

Common Good will seat about 40 people, and plans are to add an outdoor patio that would open by next spring. The co-owners like the building's proximity to the Metra train station.

"I think the type of service we have will cater to commuters who are just getting off the train after a long day of work," Alicia Hauge said. "Or they could be on the way to the movie theater or on their way to dinner or a nightcap."

Common Good also will be offering food through its partnership with Blackberry Market, which is also in downtown Glen Ellyn. In addition, Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits will provide rotating seasonal desserts.

"Blackberry Market has a similar vision of having a spot for the community to gather," Chad Hauge said. "Blackberry Market chef and owner Anna Davidson was really willing to work with us, and the food she picked I think is really perfect."

---

If you go

WHAT: Common Good Cocktail House

WHERE: 560 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn

HOURS: 5 to 11 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, closed Sundays

INFO: facebook.com/commongoodcocktails