‘A little extra charm and character’: Speakeasy-inspired event space opening in Wauconda

Unless you know where you’re going and are looking for it, Cellar 109, a new event space coming to downtown Wauconda, isn't the easiest to find.

But that's part of the mystique for a speakeasy-inspired, multiuse venue at 109 S. Main St. “Suite B” is actually the basement, accessible by going down a few steps from the sidewalk and through a narrow passage between two buildings to an nondescript door.

Inside, the walls and ceiling are painted a dark navy and will be highlighted with period photos. Other elements throughout the space were researched and selected as reminders of another era.

“We wanted it dark and moody,” said Michelle Sarrafi. She and partners Kayla Baggett and Lauren Cunliffe envision a “modern, speakeasy-style event space designed for gatherings that deserve a little extra charm and character.”

With that, visitors will receive an email or text with a password when they reserve their seats. A vintage telephone booth in a corner near the entry was procured for selfies. An old piano is tuned and ready to be played in another corner.

Signature drinks include the “Bee’s Knees” vodka with fresh lemon juice, local honey, lavender and a lemon twist. Cellar 109 is not a restaurant, but artisan bites or full-service catered dining will be available.

Flexible space is available for private gatherings, corporate mixers or ticketed cultural programs, as well as curated events such as piano nights. Public access is by reservation only.

Sarrafi has owned Bevel Salon down the block for 13 years and previously operated SophEve boutique.

“People didn’t know it was underground,” she said when the space below The Relationship Center, 109 S. Main St., became available. “I thought it was great.”

The question was how the finished space should be used.

Mike Siri and his wife, Diane, opened The Relationship Center upstairs at street level in 2010. A decade later, the basement was renovated for conferences, small gatherings, music-related theme nights, karaoke, theater and other events and to rent for showers, birthday parties and corporate meetings.

Because it was completed in February 2020 just before the COVID shutdown, a grand opening never happened. Eventually it was used weekly as a teaching space and occasionally rented for family events until this past October.

“It was nice, but we wanted to take it a different route,” Sarrafi said.

With longtime clients and friends turned business partners Baggett and Cunliffe, the trio settled on a gathering place with speakeasy-inspired atmosphere.

Last summer, Sarrafi and Baggett partnered and created “On Main Collective,” a market pop-up downtown. It was successful and the pair began considering indoor spaces.

Cunliffe, also a longtime Sarrafi client and friend, was looking to invest on Main Street and the idea fell into place.

“We brought in Lauren and it turned into something more elegant and elevated than our pop-up,” Baggett said.

Cellar 109 has seating for 52 and a capacity of 130 with flexible layouts.

“It’s exactly what we hoped the space would become,” Siri said during a recent visit.

A ribbon cutting is scheduled for March 5 and a hosted jazz event is planned for March 7.