Cook, Cork & Fork to expand into neighboring space in Palatine

Since Cook, Cork & Fork opened in downtown Palatine in 2015, it has operated as a cooking school and a wine bar.

Now, the business at 34 W. Palatine Road plans to expand into an adjacent vacant tenant space.

On Monday, the village council paved the way for the expansion into a roughly 500-square-foot space at 4 N. Bothwell St. by unanimously approving an amendment to the business’ special use.

The added space will serve as a tasting room and site for pre-scheduled private events or meetings. It will be available by reservation or invitation only.

Possible uses will include book clubs, social groups, community organizations, business meetings and charity and fundraising events.

Palatine residents John and Mica Mahler opened the business as a kitchenware retailer that also offered cooking classes.

Then in 2023, the couple decided to move in a new direction.

“We’ve got to do something different,” Mica Mahler said. There is no foot traffic here, so we reduced our retail down and decided to build out a wine bar.”

The village allowed the change in 2024.

A few months ago, the business launched a small cocktail menu. It also offers small bites — John makes everything in house, including his legendary spinach and artichoke dip.

The idea for the new space grew out of an event the business hosted a few months ago. One of its wine distributors brought in a vineyard from France to showcase its wines to potential buyers.

Guests included the general manager of Shaw’s Crab House.

“It gave us a great idea that this is a huge opportunity that we’re missing out on, to bring all these industry leaders into the community. They loved our space. It was just kind of a natural progression,” John Mahler said.

The space will enable them to host private events that do not conflict with cooking classes or the wine bar, the couple said.

“We have more and more inquiries on a regular basis for groups that are 10 to 20,” John Mahler said.

Noting the business’ evolution from storefront to wine bar and now wine tastings, Palatine council member Joe Falkenberg commended its ability “to adapt with the community.”

He and his wife have taken part in cooking classes there, as did their daughter during grade school.

szalusky@dailyherald.com