Abe Vucekovich
Lardon, The Meadowlark, and Union | Chicago
SEPTEMBER 2024
After graduating from college, Abe Vucekovich traveled anywhere and everywhere he could with the money he made while working as a bank teller. When he returned to the States, Vucekovich started to write, both fiction and nonfiction, and found work at Floriole Cafe & Bakery as a dishwasher before he was moved to the front of house. In 2015, his roommate got him a job at The Violet Hour. Vucekovich started as a food runner and was bumped to barback a few months later, learning the basics from Rising Stars alum Tyler Fry and developing a passion for cocktails and hospitality. After three and a half years, he became a bartender before working his way up to manager, then events coordinator. Eventually, he was promoted to head bartender and general manager, finding ways to break rules, create new cocktails, and lead a team all while working under Bartender Toby Maloney.
When the pandemic hit, Vucekovich built an online cocktail class program for the bar, offering a subscription service and hosting events for up to 400 people. When he returned to service at the bar, he helped get it back up and running before deciding to take a break from the industry. After a three-month hiatus, Vucekovich joined the team at The Meadowlark as beverage director, helping to design and open the Palmer Square cocktail bar. Since 2022, he has been creating thoughtful, themed menus while also building the bar programs at Lardon and Union, both of which are right next door. With plans to open a bar of his own in the near future, Vucekovich is supporting the growth of his staff and developing cocktails that emphasize high-quality spirits and tell captivating stories, like his Viking Ship with blended Scotch, aquavit, cherry liqueur, lemon, sage syrup, and pilsner.
