Introduction to M House
BRIDGEPORT — Baijiu, an intriguing Chinese liquor, is hard to find in Chicago, let alone the United States. But step inside — or rather, get buzzed into — an unassuming brick building at 800 W. 27th St. across from Bridgeport’s Palmisano Park and you’ll find a wide selection of baijiu alongside other hard-to-find and high-end Chinese and Western liquors.
The Concept of M House
Since opening in February, M House Wine & Spirits has built a following among neighbors in Bridgeport and Chinatown and liquor enthusiasts. For the latter, the store offers an annual membership for $999 a year with members-only discounts and invitations to exclusive tasting events. “We’re not just a store where people come in and buy a bottle and leave,” manager Parick Gibellina said. “We’re actually here to learn who the people are in the community and start to build those relationships.”
Baijiu, a Chinese spirit, on display at M House, on Friday, March 28, 2025, in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago. Credit: Vincent Alban for Block Club Chicago
The Store’s Offerings
M House’s opening comes as more cocktail-oriented bars pop up in Bridgeport and Chinatown. The store was founded to fill a gap in the Chinatown area, which offers plenty of food options for locals and visitors but didn’t have a liquor store to match, said co-owner Wesley Song. But M House is far from a typical corner liquor store. The store recently co-hosted a series of Downtown events for members with Maurice Hennessy, an eighth-generation member of the family behind the cognac brand. A bottle of Hennessy Cognac Richard is currently the priciest item at M House, retailing for $6,500 — although those who prefer something a bit less extravagant can grab a six-pack of beer from a fridge up front or a bottle of fruit-flavored Korean soju for under $10.
Unique Features of M House
Song said he and his partners intend for the shop to be “a bridge” between communities, offering Western and Chinese liquors and introducing new audiences to Chinese beverages such as baijiu. Considered one of the world’s top-selling varieties of liquor, baijiu is produced across China by fermenting and then distilling grain. Distilleries use different mixes of grains, including sorghum and wheat, and the end product can be flavored with a wide range of herbs, yielding significantly distinct and complex flavor profiles that vary by region.
Customer Experience
Some customers have come to M House looking for a taste of their hometown varieties of baijiu, Gibellina said. “That immediately resonates with them,” he said. The store also offers a curated collection of American wines and whiskeys, including bourbon and rye. Imported spirits include Scotch and Japanese whiskey, rum, vodka and tequila, with prices ranging from under $50 to well into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
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