‘Helping people find their stories’: Indie bookstore to open in downtown Lake Zurich
Politics was the introduction, but it was a shared love of reading, writing and storytelling that fueled the partnership behind an indie bookstore set to open in downtown Lake Zurich.
“We want this to be a place people can find inspiration and share stories,” said Jessica Vealitzek, co-owner of Commonplace, 10 E. Main St.
“We have been very thoughtful about what we're creating here. We want it to be a welcoming place where people feel at home,” she added.
Vealitzek was elected to the Lake County Board in 2018 and was named by peers as president of the Lake County Forest Preserve District board in December 2024. County board members double as forest preserve commissioners.
A published author who just finished her second book, Vealitzek is now opting for a different path rather than seeking reelection to a third term in November.
Co-owner Vanessa Griffin, who has 25 years experience in marketing and communications, recently left her job at the career management center at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management to focus on this venture.
“We've been dreaming about this a long time,” she said. “It's our dream to help people find their stories.”
The Hawthorn Woods residents met at a coffee during Vealitzek's first campaign.
“She was super interested in politics and we just hit it off,” Vealitzek said. The pair had similar tastes, values and vision, she added, and kept in touch.
Griffin reached out around 2020 to meet and chat. The book-loving friends stayed connected and kept meeting and chatting, sometimes at a picnic table in Breezewald Park, around the corner from what would become their new shop. Griffin would bring a stack of books and Vealitzek would offer recommendations.
“We both had always dreamed of opening up some sort of shop and we naturally landed on books,” Vealitzek said.
They got serious about the idea last year. Vealitzek decided not to run for reelection and a whirlwind of activity was unleashed when the storefront on Main Street became available. Lake Zurich has been a central hub of both families’ lives, Griffin said.
The name Commonplace has dual connotations. It’s an old word referring to handwritten records of inspiration found in the world, Vealitzek explained.
It’s also a nod to what they want patrons to experience when they stop in.
“It’s a thing that’s happening right now,” Griffin said. “Indies are on the upswing. There’s a turn to local community.”
“Lake Zurich has had staying power with the coffee shops and restaurants,” she added. “This is a good addition to the ecosystem.”
Their inventory features about 2,500 titles, new and used, with about 500 more coming. Authors with local ties, such as Amy J. Elliott and bestselling writer Mary Kubica, will visit, and local artists and makers will be showcased. Workshops, a book club and other activities are planned.
“We hope there’s something here for everyone to discover,” Griffin said.
Finishing touches are in progress. The decor is mix and match, with Griffin’s old kitchen table, a farm table from a cabin in Wisconsin, custom-made oak shelves and more.
Commonplace will be open for preview hours from noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Sept. 3 through 18. A grand opening with gifts, treats and surprises is set for Sept. 19 to coincide with Ela History Day/Antique & Artisan Market across the street at Lions Park.
Vealitzek in a social media post announcing the bookstore described her time in public office as “amazing and crazy and lovely and rewarding.” She said she believes in the power of community to effect good change through civic engagement.
“There will be moments I’ll miss some of it,” she said. “I’ll definitely miss the camaraderie and colleagues on the board.”
mzawislak@dailyherald.com