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Date: 10/5/2022
CHICOPEE – The vibrant decor and varied mixed drinks of The Elixir debuted in Chicopee on Sept. 15 during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the bar’s 19 Grove St. location. Owner Lisa Jablonski shared the establishment will honor Chicopee’s Polish roots while working to provide a plethora of new community offerings.
Jablonski, a branch manager at KeyBank Westfield, shared that she always expressed interest in running a business and previously attempted to open a bar in downtown Springfield.
“I always knew I wanted to run a business, I just didn’t know what type of business,” said Jablonski in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
While touring the 19 Grove St. space, Jablonski said she became inspired to open a bar in the location. The bar sits right outside of Polish National Credit Union and the Falls Polish Home. Jablonski shared that she used to bartend during festive functions at the Polish Home while also accruing an expansive bartending track record across the restaurant industry.
“When I was younger, I was scattered through the restaurant industry [while] going to college. Now, I’m a full-time banker and bar owner by nighttime,” said Jablonski.
The bar owner said her daughter will serve as the bar’s manager. She also incorporates family ties throughout the bar, including pictures of her grandparents, parents and siblings scattered across the space.
For creating a bar aesthetic, Jablonski shared that she pulled from a variety of inspirations. Some of the features include a music wall, a mixture of old and new-age paintings and a slew of other distinctive pieces of decor.
“In my business plan, I put that I wanted the bar to be different. I don’t have a theme, I just want it to be different everywhere you look,” said Jablonski.
Jablonski spent eight years living in Chicopee prior to opening The Elixir. She discussed how Chicopee always felt like an ideal community to her.
“I’ve always liked the feel of Chicopee. The opportunity was here, so I went with it,” said Jablonski.
The Elixir’s cocktail menu features an array of bar staples and innovative creations. Jablonski discussed how one of the cocktails, The Tatanka, pays tribute to Chicopee’s Polish culture with its blend of vodka, lime juice, apple juice and an apple slice.
“It’s a Polish-style drink since we’re in a Polish community here … We have a Polish beer from Poland, we have different things to blend the tradition,” said Jablonski.
Jablonski highlighted her extensive plans to expand The Elixir’s services over time. Along with including DJs and local entertainment options, Jablonski revealed that the bar will incorporate the barbecue and Polish food offerings from the Smoked food truck.
Reflecting on the bar’s goals, Jablonski said she aspires for the bar to help reconnect the community in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am up for the challenge … I want to bring the community back out again. I want to have local music; I want to have everything local. I went with the local breweries to have [drinks] on tap,” said Jablonski.
Readers can learn more about The Elixir and their services at https://elixirchic.com/.