With each cocktail we craft, our aim is simple — to spark joy, evoke nostalgia, and leave a lasting impression.
FROM CLASSICS WITH A TWIST TO OUR HOUSE CREATIONS, OUR DRINK MENU IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR DEDICATION. EVERY INGREDIENT AND EVERY DETAIL ARE INFUSED WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE, ENSURING THAT EACH VISIT TO APOTHECARY IS AN INVITATION TO ESCAPE THE ORDINARY.
From a pharmacy to a cocktail lounge
The owner's journey
Two questions people ask me quite often are “Why is a pharmacist starting a craft cocktail lounge?” and “How are your two passions connected?” Well…long before I ever stepped behind a bar, I was standing behind a pharmacy counter. It was in pharmacy school lab class where I fell in love with measuring, mixing, and compounding. I learned the discipline of balance and how each chemical or compound works with or against the others, how small adjustments can completely change an outcome and how the right ingredients can transform the result you have been trying to achieve.
After graduating from pharmacy school, I realized that years of pharmacy practice had taught me to listen before acting and to understand the person in front of me before creating a solution for them.
Then one day I fell in love with craft cocktails. In both worlds, I discovered the same quiet truth that people don’t come to you simply for a product. They come for comfort. They come to share in the knowledge you’ve amassed. At the end of the day, they come to feel better.
A great cocktail, like a great remedy, starts with attention: to flavor, to proportion and to the person you’re crafting it for. It requires patience and respect for the alchemy that happens when ingredients are mixed. Pharmacy taught me the science; creating
cocktails taught me the artistry.
So, in 2003 while living in Philadelphia, I completed a certified bartending course and for the last 20 years my love bartending has only grown. I had to take the leap of faith and follow the passion.
Two years after that leap, I have assembled a team of the most talented folks I know and I could not be prouder of what we’ve been able to create for you! Every drink on our menu is built with the same care I once put into the mortar and pestle. My hope is that each cocktail is a blend of knowledge, craft, and a genuine desire to offer you something that lifts the spirit, quite literally and figuratively.
Apothecary is the combination of my two worlds. It’s a modern take on the age-old practice of making people feel good!
Cheers!
Eric
Our Team
ZACHARY HELLER
Zach started his bartending career at CH Distillery in Chicago’s Fulton Market Neighborhood where several of his outstanding cocktails were featured on their menu. His Hot Toddy was rated #1 in Chicago by Zagat, and his Rosemary’s Baby cocktail was featured on ABC’s Windy City LIVE. While at CH he also created a spiced cocktail menu for Tonguespank Spice Company and managed all of CH’s offsite cocktail events. He represented CH Distillery at Chicago’s West Loop Shakedown and won the Audience Favorite award with his Lickety Split cocktail.
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Zach then moved to Soho House Chicago where he bartended large scale and sponsored events such as the Art Basel Miami Bombay Sapphire tent featuring Chaka Khan, and four consecutive years of both Lollapalooza Grey Goose events and Peroni SunGays Events.
In addition to the large events, he bartended intimate gatherings for celebrities such as Sting, P!nk, Chance the Rapper, Mumford & Sons, Harry Styles, David Schwimmer, and Lizzo. While at Soho House he placed 3rd in their national Dewar’s competition with his Peanut Patterson cocktail. He was also a finalist in Chicago’s Tenzing Coupe with his cocktails Autumn in Taos, and Sundays at the Borough.
JACQUELYN LORD
Jacquelyn is a classically trained chef with over a decade of kitchen and catering experience. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, she is fluent in numerous culinary styles, including French, Mediterranean, Italian, and classic American fare. Chef and owner of the Dinner Belle, she has catered weddings, taught cooking classes, and created extraordinary events throughout the city.
Join Our Team
We’re looking for passionate individuals to join our team! At Apothecary, we believe great drinks start with great people, and we’re committed to creating an environment where our team thrives just as much as our guests. If you value collaboration and creativity, apply today.