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Angela Joseph JOHN R. BOEHM R. JOHN Opening a restaurant is tough any time. But now? Dick Durbin An average of 12 to 15 establishments—many of which were already underway—open each week doubles down Senator known for Illinois’ collegial elder states- BY ALLY MAROTTI in the works for more than a year, man was the rst prominent and people need to eat, pandemic Democrat in the state to publicly When Rye Deli & Drink opened or not. collegiality exes muscle break with Michael Madigan and on a recent November day, people “ ere’s still a lot of people that urge him to step aside after a cor- lined the sidewalks of Greektown, want to order food. . . .We were in Illinois and D.C. ruption scandal swirling around
waiting to try its handmade bagels just betting on that,” Caruso says. BURGER NEIL the longtime party boss hurt BY A.D. QUIG and house-smoked pastrami. “I’ll tell you what, we bet right.” Rye Deli & Drink chef Billy Caruso Democrats on Election Day. In Chef Billy Caruso was jazzed. e deli is not alone in its bold As Dick Durbin prepares to D.C., he’s angling for an in uen- He knew opening Rye as quest to draw in diners amid the down from 25 to 30 pre-pan- start his fth term in the U.S. tial committee post and hoping COVID-19 cases spiked would be industry’s darkest days. An av- demic but still more than expect- Senate, the Spring eld Demo- Democrats pull o an unlikely no cakewalk—starting a restau- erage of 12 to 15 Chicago-area ed, says Keith Gellman, CEO of crat is exing political muscle at sweep of two Georgia runo s rant never is, even in normal restaurants open weekly, accord- home and seeking more power in times. But the concept had been ing to RestaurantData.com. at’s See RESTAURANTS on Page 29 Washington. See DURBIN on Page 31
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P001_CCB_20201130.indd 1 11/25/20 2:44 PM 2 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS GREG HINZ $15,000 to move to Michigan? ON POLITICS Chicagoans raise their hands. An o er of cash and gifts to make a full-time home in the western part of the state Illinois finally does attracted so many people that the program closed to new applicants after two weeks something right BY DENNIS RODKIN I wrote a couple of weeks were establishing drop- An offer of $15,000 and gifts to ago about how our very o boxes so people could move to western Michigan full- democracy is on the bubble, deposit their ballot without time attracted so many people caught between a pair of having to trust to the mail, that the program closed to new stubborn septuagenarians in declaring Election Day a applicants after two weeks. President Donald Trump and holiday to make more public The economic development Illinois House Speaker Mi- facilities available—“ at group that launched the offer a chael Madigan, each refusing was a godsend” says Mari- month ago reports that nearly to recognize their time is up. sel Hernandez, chair of the two-thirds of the applications ere’s been a bit of an Chicago Board of Elections— it received are from people who awakening since, but the far and automatically sending all now live in the Chicago area. more promising develop- active voters an application Cornerstone Alliance un- ment is not what that pair has for a mail ballot rather than veiled its Move to Michigan done but what we the people requiring them to separately program Oct. 26. It’s a package did. at’s to turn out in request one. of incentives including up to near-record numbers to vote e GOP’s Butler would $15,000 in cash to people who despite the pandemic. like to see “some statewide buy a home for $200,000 or Now that I’ve had a chance consistency” in securing more in selected ZIP codes in to take a close look at what drop-o boxes but concedes the area around Bridgman, St. happened in the Nov. 3 elec- the two in Spring eld “were Joseph, Benton Harbor and oth- tion and talk to the experts, well used.” And as for every- er towns. Applicants also got to it’s clear that new, temporary one automatically getting a choose from gifts such as a free
voter-friendly procedures vote-by-mail application, “I annual pass on the South Shore THE LAKERE/MAX BY here in Illinois to encour- don’t have a big problem, so train line, a health club mem- This house in Berrien Springs, 96 miles from the Loop, is asking $209,000, a price that would age early and remote voting long as you keep the (regis- bership or beach passes. qualify its buyer for the $15,000 incentive. were a huge success, despite tration) rolls up to date.” To collect, applicants had to fears to the contrary. ose One thing that appears not agree to become full-time res- from the Chicago metropolitan gle and Nike, and that 70 per- new procedures now need to yet on the horizon is sending idents and certify that they will area. The program closed to cent said they plan to put their be made permanent by the not just vote applications work remotely for a company new applicants Nov. 7. children in the area’s public Illinois Legislature. Some but actual ballots to every- outside the area. schools. ne-tuning likely is needed, one. Even though that’s the When rolling out the pro- INTEREST FROM AFAR People who take the Move to but the system worked. practice in some states, “I am gram, Cornerstone CEO Rob Applications came from peo- Michigan incentive may be work- “Overall, the (new) law not convinced Illinois is there Cleveland told Crain’s that his ple in 23 other states and one ing remotely, Cleveland said in worked successfully,” says yet,” says Kaczmarek. “De- group, which ordinarily works province in Nepal. Those house October, but “they’ll have kids DuPage County Clerk Jean spite sending mail applica- to attract companies to the re- hunting in the region might they put in the schools, they’ll Kaczmarek, whose main con- tions to all registered voters, gion, was trying something spot a four-bedroom house list- spend time at the breweries. cern is that lawmakers won’t three- fths of DuPage voters new as a response to the pan- ed for $220,000 in St. Joseph, at’s how we build community.” be able to act fast enough in this election still chose to demic year’s work-from-home/ 93 miles from the Loop. In Ber- The $15,000 incentive comes to extend the provisions to vote in person during a dead- school-from-home style. “If you rien Springs, 96 miles from the as a forgivable loan, with $5,000 cover the upcoming April 6 ly pandemic. at says a lot.” can’t recruit Google,” he said, Loop, a three-bedroom is ask- crossed off the balance due for consolidated local elections, Point taken. Still, the “go recruit a Google engineer.” ing $209,000. each year the homeowners re- main sponsor of According to a follow-up re- Cornerstone’s report said the main in the property. NEW VOTER FRIENDLY PROCEDURES this year’s pilot port from Cornerstone, 135 applicants’ employers include No one from Cornerstone was program, Sen. Julie people applied. Of them, 85 are Amazon, Boeing, Deloitte, Goo- available for comment. HERE WERE A HUGE SUCCESS. Morrison, D-Deer- eld, says after forcing her to scramble to sitting down with election nd polling places. pros to review the results, she Roughly 1.9 million Illi- expects to introduce legis- noisans voted by mail this lation next year to make the cycle, and another 1.9 million new procedures permanent. early in person, leaving only Morrison would like some about a third of the vote to tweaks. For instance, those At Wintrust, your banker knows you. come in on Election Day who filled out a mail appli- itself, reports Matt Dietrich, cation and then tried to vote spokesman for the Illinois at their polling place weren’t We understand that your State Board of Elections. allowed to vote in person. “People seemed to like not Hernandez wants to estab- having to crowd into a pre- lish a permanent database employees depend on you. cinct polling place,” he adds, so that anyone who applies and with one small excep- for a mail-in ballot in one tion, “we got no reports” election automatically gets of fraud or election irregu- one for the next. Kaczmarek larities despite the highest says the requirement that percentage turnout in nearly panels of three judges review three decades. each mail-in ballot signature “Overall, everything I’ve was awkward to implement, seen, everybody I’ve heard and that “reminder” let- from, the election seems to ters from Secretary of State have come o very well,” says Jesse White may have caused Which is why thousands of Rep. Tim Butler R-Spring- more trouble than they were eld, who is the point person worth. businesses turned to us to help for Illinois House Republi- Bottom line, as Hernandez secure more than 114,000 local jobs. cans and was pretty skeptical concludes: “Show me the Start the conversation at earlier this year. “ e vote facts. e facts show we had a wintrust.com/meetus. by mail seemed to work out very safe and transparent and well.” secure process.” In a 2020 My, my. that mostly was miserable, I’ll Among the biggest hits take that. Banking products provided by Wintrust Financial Corp. banks.
P002_CCB_20201130.indd 2 11/25/20 9:13 AM CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 30, 2020 3 Warehouse wariness in Pullman As Amazon builds its ‘last-mile’ network, some Chicagoans push back
BY ALBY GALLUN On a crisp afternoon in late Oc- tober, Mayor Lori Lightfoot gave a warm welcome to Amazon on a vis- it to its new warehouse in Pullman. Speaking at the building’s grand opening, Lightfoot thanked Ama- zon, which will employ 200 people there, for its commitment to Chi- cago, “the rst of, I hope, many to come.” More Amazon warehouses are coming, and fast. But not every- one is happy about it. Just a few weeks after the Pullman event, a proposed Amazon project in Bridgeport received a chilly re- ception at a hearing of the Chica- go Plan Commission. Supporters, including Maurice Cox, Lightfoot’s top economic development o - cer, focused on the 200 permanent jobs created by the $30 million de- velopment. POT RETAILERS DISCOVER DESIGN But community activists at
PHOTOS BY JOHN R. BOEHM R. JOHN BY PHOTOS the Nov. 19 meeting asked the commission to shoot down the proposal, citing the congestion Stylish stores supplant staid shops BY JOHN PLETZ and exhaust from trucks and de- livery vans driving to and from HIGH CONCEPT RETAILING is coming to weed. the warehouse. It’s a question of New pot shops that have opened since Illinois legalized recreation- environmental justice—protect- al marijuana in January look more like Apple stores and less like UPS ing minority neighborhoods like stores. ey’ve gotten bigger, brighter and more expensive, like the Bridgeport already su ering from 15,000-square-foot Greenhouse store across from Old Orchard mall in high levels of pollution, Anna Skokie. It’s about the size of an Aldi or Trader Joe’s grocery store and Schibrowsky of the Bridgeport Al- features a striking roo ine outside, a winding staircase inside and a large liance told the panel. sales oor dotted with sleek wood display cases topped by glass. “We are asking you to reject sys- “ e trend in cannabis today is you’re looking at it like traditional re- temic environmental racism that tail: You want a bigger box to serve more people,” says Talley Wettlaufer, puts an inequitable burden of pol- senior vice president of retail for Curaleaf, which is acquiring Green- lution on majority-minority neigh- house and its parent, Grassroots. “ e industry has just evolved.” borhoods,” Schibrowsky said. A growing number of larger stores has helped recreational marijuana e Bridgeport debate high- sales nearly double to $75.3 million per month in Illinois since January, lights the mixed feelings emerging generating $20.2 million in tax revenue for the state in September. over Amazon’s push into Chicago.
See WEED on Page 28 The Greenhouse dispensary in Skokie is bright and sleek. See AMAZON on Page 31 One buy made it the main player in nonbank online loans Enova’s purchase of OnDeck is a game-changer for the high-rate consumer lender
BY STEVE DANIELS Texas-based consumer lender billion in loans last year. Cash America, spun o in No- Enova, which was launched as e tortoise is now the hare. vember 2014 at a valuation of a payday lender to cash-strapped At 16 years of age, Enova Inter- about $840 million. New York- consumers needing to cover the national, the Chicago-based on- based OnDeck went public just month’s expenses, now is the line consumer lender, is both the one month after that at a $1.3 nation’s largest online lender old man of its adolescent indus- billion market value. But it was to small businesses. ( ink day try and its slow-and-steady pace Enova nearly six years later that care centers, dry cleaners, co ee keeper. But that all changed last scooped up OnDeck, struggling to shops and specialty food stores.) month with Enova’s opportunis- survive following the onset of the Its consumer business today is tic acquisition of former industry pandemic, for just $90 million. much more about making install- darling OnDeck Capital, which e combination turns Enova ment loans over terms up to ve transformed Enova into far and into a pro table, leading plat- years rather than payday loans away the nation’s largest non- form making loans over the inter- that must be repaid quickly. e bank online lender. net to both consumers and small company’s loan mix is now 60
Enova, launched in 2004 and businesses. Enova and OnDeck BOEHM R. JOHN owned for years by Fort Worth, combined to originate nearly $7 See ENOVA on Page 29 David Fisher is CEO of Enova International.
P003_CCB_20201130.indd 3 11/25/20 2:46 PM 4 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS CHICAGO COMES BACK JOE CAHILL ON BUSINESS e time for post-pandemic planning is now Remarkably promising needs and wants. COVID-19 COVID-19 vaccines pose a new hasn’t extinguished those needs challenge for companies that and wants. We still like traveling, have spent the past eight months going to movies, eating at restau- enduring the virus’ impact on rants, attending sporting events, commerce. concerts and plays. A powerful Soon, they’ll have to shift from but temporary external force has survival mode to preparing for arti cially suppressed demand a likely surge in demand when for these experiences. Demand vaccines become widely avail- will spring back when that force able sometime around the mid- fades away. dle of next year. Just as the arrival As spending revives, so will of a global pandemic triggered hiring. Unemployment soared an unprecedented economic by 14 million between February free-fall, its end is likely to ignite and May, a faster rise than the a sudden and dramatic ascent. country experienced during Yes, it will take some time to the Great Recession. Although get large numbers of people the unemployment rate has immunized. Vaccines, some of declined to 6.9 percent from an
which require ultra-cold storage, April peak of 14.7 percent, about GETTY IMAGES must be distributed around the 11 million people are still out of world. Resistance to vaccination work, nearly twice as many as a in some quarters will have to be year ago. Many worked in service overcome. ere may be glitches industries likely to bene t most How you can benefit from and delays. But vaccine trial from rising demand. results showing extraordinarily e rebound will be stron- high success rates of more than gest in sectors hit hardest by 90 percent instill con dence, the downturn—airlines, hotels, paying attention to disability and medical supply chains have restaurants, and other tour- the capabilities to clear logistical ism- or entertainment-related hurdles. businesses. Companies in these New perspectives and points of view are critical to innovation and problem-solving Over the next several months, industries have cut deeply to more and more people will survive devastating revenue BY EMILY DRAKE AND TODD CONNOR are the bene ts of paying attention declines, laying o to this facet of diversity? “THERE’S A LOT OF PENT UP DEMAND tens of thousands Chicago Comes Back is a weekly series on ChicagoBusiness.com pro- of workers, closing viding leadership insights to help your business move forward, written EB: e bene ts of paying attention THAT WILL BE UNLEASHED.” outlets and reduc- by leadership consultants Emily Drake and Todd Connor. to disability are the exact same ben- ing service. Drake and Connor facilitate Crain’s Leadership Academy. Drake is e ts you get when you pay atten- get vaccinated, immunity will e cutbacks kept companies a licensed therapist, owner of the Collective Academy and a leadership tion to any facet of diversity. New spread, fears of COVID will ebb, a oat in a rising tide of red ink. coach. Connor is the founder of Bunker Labs and the Collective Acade- perspectives, di erent lived expe- and government restrictions on But they could become liabilities my and is also a leadership consultant. riences, varied points of view—all economic activity will fall. at when customers return. Com- Check out previous installments at ChicagoBusiness.com/comesback. of which are critical to innovation might seem like a long way o , panies unable to meet surging and problem-solving. Consider as the viral siege that started demand risk losing customers EMILY DRAKE: In past columns that is? What makes considering something called the “curb cut ef- in March intensi es again. Yet to rivals that either cut less or we’ve talked about the importance disability in the workforce so . . . fect,” and how disability activists it doesn’t give companies a lot restore capacity faster. of nuance and diversity. is week awkward for leaders? fought to make sidewalks more ac- of time to prepare for an epic It may be hard to think about I was given the opportunity to cessible. eir ght to smooth the spending binge. adding sta and boosting bring those principles together and EMILY BLUM: Society tells us that transition between sidewalk and By midyear, people will have investment when states around introduce another challenge for disability and having a disability is road surely bene ts wheelchair us- spent a year in forced economic the country are tightening leaders: considering intersection- a Bad ing—capital B, capital T. ers, but it also bene ts parents with isolation, many of them build- restrictions in response to rising ality. I know, I know, I can just hear And to talk about it, let alone center strollers, cyclists, delivery workers ing up savings not because they coronavirus cases. ere may people thinking, “It’s already chal- it, is impolite and uncomfortable. and lots and lots of other groups wanted to, but because they well be another leg down for the lenging enough. I need a break.” at may be the origin of awkward- of users. Curb cut e ects are seen haven’t been able to spend. As economy before vaccines reach e work of leadership is a mara- ness, but it doesn’t mean it can’t in the workplace too, especially a result, they’re sitting on a lot most people. thon, and not everyone is ready for change. Disability is simply part during COVID-19. People with dis- of cash and plenty of deferred “ e recovery has been slowing that. of the human experience, and it is abilities paved the way for remote desires. When a vaccine opens down,” says Tannenbaum, warn- natural. For me, having a disabili- work and technologies that are ac- the gates, those dollars will ood ing that unemployment bene ts TODD CONNOR: And that’s OK, ty is as much a part of me as being cessible and available, and really, the marketplace. for millions of workers idled by because being a leader and being a Chicagoan, a woman, or even they bene t everyone. “ ere’s a lot of pent-up the pandemic are running out. In an advocate is hard, but that is, having brown hair. If we can ip demand that will be unleashed another worrisome sign, initial of course, also where the growth the script on disability and make it TC: So, if a leader is reading this and when we achieve some sense jobless claims ticked up during is. at’s why I’m so glad we have normal and make it OK, then we’ll acknowledging the bene ts, how of normalcy,” says Carl Tan- the week ended Nov. 14, ending a Emily Blum with us this week, the have a lot easier time talking about about the action they can take? nenbaum, chief economist at string of weekly declines. Without executive director of ADA 25 Ad- it in all spaces. What would you suggest as a rst Northern Trust in Chicago. more help from Washington, the vancing Leadership. She’s here to step to pay better attention to the I don’t buy predictions that the unemployed will be hard-pressed introduce even more nuance and ED: Yes! e human experience disability conversation? pandemic will permanently alter to buy groceries, pay rent and texture to the diversity conversa- is something that’s been o ered consumer behavior or usher in make other purchases that sup- tion in particular, asking leaders and shown in so many ways this EB: According to census data, 1 a new age of cautious, isolated port the economy. to consider: When you are de- year—resilience comes to mind as in 4 Americans has a disability. living. Outside of a few sectors Still, the potential for another veloping your diversity, equity inherent to what we’re witnessing. It’s up to CEOs and senior lead- of the economy—Tannenbaum short-term slump doesn’t mean and inclusion strategy, are you Great organizations are those that ers to make disability a welcomed points to the retail and oce a powerful recovery isn’t coming considering people with disabili- don’t ignore the ways our experi- and important part of culture. So segments of commercial real when vaccines subdue the ties? It’s this latter part that is not ences intersect, and you illustrate a step that can be taken today, estate—people will resume old virus. Companies should plan always present in the conversa- that beautifully using yourself as right now, is with your statement patterns as soon as it’s safe to accordingly. After all, the only tion of inclusion, and particularly an example. If you don’t bring forth on diversity and equity. Does it do so. thing worse than su ering the so when it comes to the nuanced everything about your team mem- include disability? If not, x it Why? Because those old economic agony of the pandem- understanding of “seen” as well as bers, you’re missing out on innova- immediately. If it does, great, but spending habits existed for a rea- ic would be missing out on the “unseen” disabilities. Emily Blum, tion and opportunity. As you think then start evaluating how you son; they satis ed basic human ensuing recovery. welcome and thank you. Let me about honoring disability in the are and are not living up to that start with this: Why do you think workforce and in leadership, what promise of disability inclusion.
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20cb0527.pdf RunDate 10/26/20 FULL PAGE Color: 4/C 6 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS These suburban housing markets are booming Across the map, 2020 has delivered ‘a market like we’ve rarely seen and likely won’t again long time,” says Linda Dressler, exurb. It’s a short drive or Metra an agent with Re/Max Suburban ride into the city and has two ex- for a long time,’ says Linda Dressler, president of the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors based in Schaumburg and presi- pressways nearby. “We want to dent of the Mainstreet Organiza- get out of the city this year,” Dom- BY DENNIS RODKIN houses are not the only pandem- Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and tion of Realtors. inick says, “but we don’t want to ic-era house hunters waking up Will counties in the same time e combination of ever-lower get too far away. We expect to be When people come to see the to the appeal of the pretty, his- frame, according to data from the interest rates, many households’ able to go back” for restaurants, homes she represents in River- torical town a dozen miles from Mainstreet Organization of Real- need for more space to accom- culture and other city amenities side, Rory Dominick says, she’s the Loop. At the end of October, tors, the Chicago Association of modate working and schooling when the time comes. been hearing the same thing over year-to-date home sales in River- Realtors and Midwest Real Estate from home, and remote working e other nine suburbs bene- and over this year: “ ey ask me, side were up 53 percent from the Data. that makes commute times less ting most from the sales boom ‘How did I not know about River- rst 10 months of 2019. Across the map, 2020 has deliv- of a bother makes it “a time when are: side before?’ ” at’s compared to a 7 percent ered “a market like we’ve rarely everybody has been looking for Lake Forest, where sales are up Visitors at Dominick’s open increase in home sales across seen and likely won’t again for a the place where they’re the most 51 percent. comfortable,” Dressler says. e Barringtons, including South Riverside’s rise in sales is the Barrington, Barrington Hills and biggest of any suburb in those others, up 47 percent. counties. (For this analysis, Wayne, 45 percent. Crain’s only looked at towns with Highland Park, 35 percent. at least 25 sales in both periods. Kenilworth, 32 percent. Your gift on Giving Tuesday Fewer, and the percentages be- Batavia, 31 percent. come exaggerated and not cred- Countryside, 30 percent. will create brighter futures ible.) Clarendon Hills, 28 percent. for kids like Dylan. is isn’t entirely surprising to Willow Springs, 28 percent. Dominick, an agent with Keller Several of these are a uent Williams Chicago-O’Hare who’s areas, including three on the EVERY DOLLAR WILL lived in Riverside since 2008. North Shore. But not all of them. BE MATCHED 3X Long admired for its stock of In Batavia, the median price of charming historical homes and a homes sold so far in 2020 is about Give online: quaint little downtown, Riverside $346,000. In Countryside, it’s MercyHome.org/Crainsns has a built-in feature that makes $220,000. it particularly appealing in the “Countryside is still an a ord- year of COVID-19: “Everywhere able place to live,” says Steve Ja- you go in town, you’re in green sinski, who grew up in the town, space,” Dominick says. 18 miles southwest of the Loop, In 1869, New York landscape and is a Baird & Warner agent designers Frederick Law Olm- there now. “ at’s why (buyers) sted and Calvert Vaux designed have been coming out of the the town of Riverside as a pictur- woodwork.” esque village of curv- ing streets tucked into a double bend in the “WE WANT TO GET OUT OF THE CITY Des Plaines River. e curves create islands of THIS YEAR, BUT WE DON’T WANT TO green space on many 2021 blocks, and much of GET TOO FAR AWAY.” the river frontage is Rory Dominick, real estate agent open space as well. House hunters look- ing to shift from the city, where Jasinski represented a two- the lakefront and the 606 trail bedroom house on a quar- LEADERS IN HR were closed, may have fallen ter-acre lot on Ninth Avenue under Riverside’s spell. Records that came on the market June 9 don’t yet show where Riverside’s at $220,000. It got 14 offers and NOMINATE NOW! buyers came from, but Domi- went under contract to a buyer nick says a good share of the 25 four days later. The sale closed in Deadline is Dec. 18 transactions she’s been involved July at $220,000, the sellers’ full in this year involved buyers from asking price. Chicago. Fourteen o ers, Jasinski says, While it feels like a tranquil re- is “not something I’ve ever seen Calling Human treat from the city, Riverside is no before. It’s been a good year.” Resources experts Nominees must be serving in a senior leadership role within their human resources department or in a company specializing in recruiting, outplacement, benefits administration or HR specific software.
Nominate at ChicagoBusiness.com/NotableHR
Nomination deadline is Friday, Dec. 18. Section publishes Feb. 1. To view Crain’s Notable Executives nomination programs, visit chicagobusiness.com/notablenoms. KELLER WILLIAMS CHICAGO O’HARE CHICAGO WILLIAMS KELLER This house on Herrick Road in Riverside sold for $780,000 in October.
P006_CCB_20201130.indd 6 11/24/20 8:18 PM MORE THAN EVER, OUR CHILDREN NEED US.
Because of COVID-19, hunger has more than doubled. And children are particularly at risk; one in three households with children is facing hunger. As job loss and the continued economic downturn push more people to the end of their resources, many families are having to choose between paying bills or buying food.
GIVING TUESDAY is December 1. Please give generously, for all our neighbors. WE NEED YOU.
DONATE NOW chicagosfoodbank.org/givenow
20cb0623.pdf RunDate 6/29/20 FULL PAGE Color: 4/C 8 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS How COVID is slamming small businesses The longer the pandemic lingers, the harder it becomes for some shops in the Austin neighborhood to survive | BY WENDELL HUTSON e longer the pandemic lin- gers, the harder it becomes for small businesses like Avanti El- egant Boutique in Austin to stay open. e family-owned women’s clothing shop at 5949 W. Chica- go Ave. could close by year-end if business does not pick up or if - nancial assistance is not secured elsewhere, says owner Angelia Booze. “I am struggling. I don’t know what is going to happen in the next month with my business. I laid o my only two employ- ees. I am behind paying rent for the store, and I am out of cash,” Booze says. “My uncle started this business 32 years ago, and when he died in 2018, I took over the business with hopes of pass- ing it on to the next generation. But as it stands now, I may have to close our doors next month.” As COVID-19 sent the U.S. economy into a recession and continues to slam industries all over the country, small busi- nesses are especially vulnerable. Crain’s is taking a closer look at the street-level e ect of the pan- demic in Chicago’s neighbor- hoods, starting on the West Side. Before the pandemic hit in the spring, Booze says, she averaged
four customers daily. Today, as HUTSON WENDELL BY PHOTOS health o cials caution people to Angelia Booze, owner of Avanti Elegant Boutique in Austin. stay home during the dangerous surge in virus cases, she’s lucky if businesses, according to Lauren she gets two a week. Hu man, a spokeswoman for “ ere’s no foot tra c in this the Illinois Department of Com- part of Austin that I previously merce & Economic Opportunity. was able to rely on, with all the She adds that BIG provided $6.2 churches around here,” she adds. million, including $1.4 million in “ is part of Chicago Avenue was the past week, to businesses in never really booming, but I cer- West Side neighborhoods, such tainly was a lot better o then. I as Austin, Douglas Park, Lawn- was at least able to make a living dale and Gar eld Park. with the amount of business I But the pandemic alone is not was getting.” why Austin remains a neighbor- Of Chicago’s 77 community ar- hood starving for more econom- eas, Austin is the second largest ic development, says Malcom (behind Lakeview) with 94,762 Crawford, co-founder and execu- residents; 79 percent of the popu- tive director of the Austin African lation is Black, 14 percent Hispan- American Business Networking ic and 5 percent white, according Association, whose members are to census data. e household Avanti Elegant Boutique opened 32 years ago in Austin. The pandemic may mean it has to close by Austin is the city’s second-largest community Austin business owners. median income is $33,420. (City- year-end. area, with a population of more than 94,000. “Most of the businesses in Aus- wide, the median is $55,198.) tin are not Black-owned, even Austin was already economi- will lead to gentri cation and tions, including one in Austin at ated the program to provide eco- though Blacks make up the ma- cally challenged before the pan- push people out of Austin, all the 5611 W. Madison St. It’s planning nomic relief for small businesses jority of the residents,” says Craw- demic hit and looters struck over more reason why more city, state, to open a fourth by the end of the hit hardest by COVID. ford, who also lives in Austin. “But the summer, said state Rep. La county, federal and even private month in southwest suburban Johnson founded DLV Print- Austin is not alone when it comes Shawn Ford, whose district in- grants are needed.” Bolingbrook. e Austin restau- ing Service, at 5825 W. Corcoran to Black neighborhoods domi- cludes Austin. During the pandemic, not all rant has 12 employees, and for Place, in 1992. nated by non-Black businesses. “If we don’t get some type of small businesses in Austin are now, Rickette says she is able to “We have not gotten a lot of or- Liquor stores are dominant busi- relief soon from Congress, then facing dire circumstances, ac- maintain her sta . ders since the pandemic. I used nesses in Austin and in many oth- you’re going to see business- cording to Charmaine Rickette, “But that could change come BIG to buy a second printing ma- er Black neighborhoods.” es shuttered and foreclosures CEO of Uncle Remus Saucy Fried July, when the minimum wage in chine to use for posters, banners Eventually the pandemic will (quickly) on the West Side of Chi- Chicken, a family-owned fast- Chicago goes up to $15 per hour,” and yers,” says Johnson, who pass, and Crawford says once cago. e future of Austin does food restaurant started in 1963 adds Rickette, up from the cur- has laid o three of her seven it does, Austin will be a “ghost not look good from a business by her parents. rent $14. employees. “Business has been town” if the business culture standpoint,” says Ford. “And if “I won’t say I am ying high, Another Austin business own- down 40 percent, but now that does not change. that should happen, then you’re but we’re making it,” says Rick- er, Vernita Johnson, says she has we o er other printing services, “Austin is the second-largest looking at one vacant building af- ette, who also lives in Austin. been able to keep her custom we are able to keep aoat.” community in Chicago, with ter another in business corridors, “When the pandemic rst hit, we T-shirt printing business going e state received $540 million more people living here than and that could entice ‘outside’ in- lost 60 to 70 percent of our reve- thanks to a $45,000 Business In- for BIG from the federal Coro- in Gary, Ind., but we only have vestors, such as venture capital- nue, and now that’s down to 15 to terruption Grant from the state navirus Aid, Relief & Economic one sit-down restaurant (MacAr- ists, to come into Austin and start 20 percent.” that she used to help buy another Security Act, of which $270 mil- thur’s),” he adds. “ ere’s some- buying up vacant properties. is Uncle Remus has three loca- printing machine. e state cre- lion was earmarked for small thing wrong with that picture.” “MY UNCLE STARTED THIS BUSINESS 32 YEARS AGO. . . .BUT AS IT STANDS NOW, I MAY HAVE TO CLOSE OUR DOORS NEXT MONTH.” Angelia Booze, owner of Avanti Elegant Boutique in Austin
P008_CCB_20201130.indd 8 11/24/20 8:16 PM The need has always been there. This year, it happens to be greater.
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20cb0621.pdf RunDate 6/29/20 FULL PAGE Color: 4/C 10 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
EDITORIAL Coexisting with Amazon e’ve written it many times on community’s environmental concerns these pages: Chicago needs against the similarly signi cant need for more good-paying, stable economic development, particularly in jobs, the kind that can provide job-starved neighborhoods. e Amazon aW decent living to people without college project, if it comes to Bridgeport, will oc- degrees, and it needs them most acutely in cupy an area that is already designated a the neighborhoods of the South Side, where Planned Manufacturing District—in other decades of disinvestment and neglect have words, a protected industrial district. If a hollowed out entire swaths of the city. In- shipping facility isn’t an appropriate use for deed, in this week’s issue of Crain’s, our free that particular location, what is? Amazon monthly Equity series explores an import- is not building a factory with smokestacks ant aspect of that disinvestment: e neigh- spewing pollutants into the air. And as for borhoods where the poorest people can the tra c concerns, Prologis seems to have a ord to live are often far from job centers, done a good job of directing tra c away and unequal access to public transit can from residential streets. turn the daily journey from home to work One interesting argument from the anti- into an hours-long odyssey. Amazon camp is that the city has not pro- Against that backdrop, the news that Am- tected the South Branch of the Chicago azon aims to open the latest of its “last-mile” River from polluting users as it did on the delivery centers in Bridgeport should have North Branch, when it essentially eliminat- been celebrated as a big win for the region. ed the PMD to make way for Lincoln Yards Amazon, which has recently opened logis- and other big projects. at’s true, but it’s tics hubs in Pullman, Gage Park and McKin- important to note that there isn’t the same ley Park, has been tight-lipped about its in- kind of development pressure on the South volvement in the Bridgeport project, but, as Branch as there is on the North. Outside of Crain’s Alby Gallun reports in this week’s is- industrial, developers aren’t gobbling up
sue, its plan to occupy 112,000 square feet of ALAMY land on the South Side. Even so, City Hall is space in a new industrial center built by San now going to re-examine its planning frame- Francisco-based Prologis along the banks of in Bridgeport are an important link in the meeting of the Chicago Plan Commission, work on the South Branch in response to the the Chicago River’s South Branch on South company’s order-ful llment chain. Amazon nearby residents and activists cited the po- environmental complaints. Fair enough. Halsted Street is more or less an open secret. wants to control every step in a product’s tential tra c congestion and exhaust as Amazon needs Chicago, and it’s reasonable Also well known: e Seattle e-commerce journey, from sourcing to warehousing and reasons to nix the project. Failing to do so to hold the company’s feet to the re to be giant’s appetite for more warehouse and now delivery to your doorstep. To pull that would perpetrate an environmental injus- sure it brings jobs here while doing the least distribution space in the city is almost in- o , it needs local and convenient spots to tice on neighborhoods already su ering possible damage to the environment. satiable. e company has inked leases for park, at least briey, the stu you and your from high levels of pollution, they argue. But while Amazon needs Chicago, Chi- more than 14 million square feet of space in neighbors are ordering. at’s where proj- ese are compelling arguments. In the Nov. cago also needs Amazon. ere’s no other the Chicago area in just the rst half of 2020. ects like the one envisioned in Bridgeport 23 issue, Crain’s monthly Forum series dove company that has shown such a keen in- It already employs 25,000 people on a full- come in. If it gets the needed approvals, the deep into the congestion problems facing terest in investing as heavily here lately— or part-time basis in Illinois and plans to location could create at least 200 permanent the entire region and, in particular, the neg- and e-commerce, like it or not, is here to hire 15,000 more here. jobs. ative impact of the logistics and distribution stay. Chicagoans who care about jobs and “Last-mile” delivery stations like the one Despite all that, the Bridgeport proposal is economy on nearby neighborhoods. opportunity should hope Amazon and its thought to be on Amazon’s radar screen drawing community pushback. At a Nov. 19 at said, city o cials must balance the neighbors can learn to coexist side by side.
YOUR VIEW CPS reopening plan leaves out crucial players
hicago Public Schools planning table that will keep or, more accurately, fails to run this dis- of the Popeyes’ chicken sandwich. management has once everyone safer and increase trict. ey fail to get principals the sup- Furthermore, they’re talking about re- Cagain introduced a skel- the likelihood of success. CPS port and resources they need and then opening schools as if it’s a media messag- etal plan to reopen schools. management is ignoring this leave them to make it work in the wake of ing event where they have to get a one-up The plan was contrived with- fundamental planning princi- the district’s failure. on public opinion, instead of looking at it out the presence and partici- ple at the expense of the stu- Listen to what CEO Janice Jackson said as an opportunity to bring the necessary pation of the teachers, support dents, sta and communities during the recent webinar with principals: parties together to plan it correctly and staff, engineers and principals who will su er because of their “We want, as always, to communicate get it right. And that is why they fail. who’d have to implement it. arrogance. as early as possible with . . . our partners We want to get our students in class- It’s as if they’re purposefully To add insult to injury, CPS who are leading our schools. . . . ere are rooms with the services they need, but trying to create a plan that is Troy LaRaviere o cials had the nerve to tell sometimes challenges embedded in that we want to get it right. However, every re- less likely to succeed by creat- is president of the principals during a webinar to because we share information ahead of opening plan they’ve had since March has ing it without the people who Chicago Principals “Take care of yourselves,” and time and hope that information would been shelved. ey will continue to in- are critical to its success. & Administrators that CPS will be sending them remain con dential until it’s appropriate crease the likelihood of further reopening Can you imagine a hospi- Association. a few “well-being resources.” to share. But unfortunately, it’s shared be- failures so long as they fail to recognize tal trying to gure out how Let’s make this clear: e big- fore we can get our message out, and that that the collective minds of medical pro- to operate during the pandemic without gest threat to the well-being of principals kind of puts us at a disadvantage.” fessionals, with sta , teachers, engineers the input of doctors and nurses? Even the and assistant principals is the current What in the world needs to be con den- and principals, are far more brilliant than NBA had enough sense to bring the play- management of CPS. More speci cally, tial about planning to open schools? ey the minds they’ve had at the planning ta- ers union in to create the plan that led to the biggest threat to their well-being is the act as if they’re discussing the nuclear ble so far. So the mayor and CEO need to the successful resumption of their sea- uninformed, cavalier, top-down, tone- launch codes when, in fact, this conversa- invite them into the planning process to son. No matter the profession, the people deaf, unilateral, disconnected manner in tion doesn’t even reach the con dentiali- harness that brilliance for the bene t of on the ground will bring insights to the which CPS management runs this district ty threshold needed for the secret recipe us all.
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P010-P011_CCB_20201130.indd 10 11/25/20 2:57 PM CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 30, 2020 11 READERS RESPOND
Crain’s report that President-elect Joe Biden may make former Chicago Mayor Rahm with a 1990s-era thinker on this. Smart, very challenging decade ahead. Not sure Emanuel his trade representative touched o a wave of reaction—overwhelmingly nega- pro-economy, pro-worker trade policy is Rahm has the expertise here.”—Michael tive—on Twitter. Here’s a sampling (edited for clarity). possible and necessary.”—Michael Lin- Li, redistricting and voting counsel at the den, executive director, Groundwork Col- Brennan Center at NYU Law “ e thing about covering up the murder “Seeing a lot of ‘snarky’ tweets about laborative of Laquan McDonald is that it disquali es this but have you even stopped to consid- “I’d like to announce the ‘don’t hire you from holding any type of public o ce. er that we’re in a ‘Speed’ situation where “Oh good Lord give him Transportation Rahm for ANYTHING because he covered Forever.”—U.S. Rep.-elect Cori Bush, D-Mo. DNC headquarters will explode if liberals over this. e idea that Biden sees trade up a murder’ challenge.”—David M. Perry ever stop trying to give Rahm Emanuel a as a backwater says everything about this “Please consider Rahm for the position of job?”—Ashley Feinberg party.”—Ryan Grimm, Intercept bureau “Maybe Biden can hide Rahm’s nom- ex-mayor of Chicago.”—Je Yang chief ination for a year or so without telling “Rahm Emanuel should not be consid- anyone before a judge nally forces him “What is so hard to understand about ered for any position within the Biden “Rahm Emanuel should not be con- to make it public”—Jordan Zakarin, Pro- this? Rahm Emanuel helped cover up the administration.”—U.S. Rep.-elect Jamaal sidered for any government position, gressives Everywhere murder of Laquan McDonald. Covering up Bowman, D-N.Y. visible or invisible. Trust Chicagoans on a murder is disqualifying for public lead- this.”—@femmepolitics “Look, the guy had an in uence over my ership. is is not about the ‘visibility’ of “No, this is an extremely NOT good business and daily life for years, and none a post. It is shameful and concerning that idea. Trade is one area of economic pol- “USTR is going to be one of the most im- of it was commendable or particularly he is even being considered.”—U.S. Rep. icy where the Biden administration has a portant and substantive positions for not positive. Isn’t there anyone more quali- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. lot of unilateral control. Please don’t go just the next administration but for the ed?”—@hacks4pancakes
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P010-P011_CCB_20201130.indd 11 11/25/20 11:56 AM SPONSORED CONTENT
CRAIN’S EVENT RECAP Fastest Growing Companies Pivot Quickly to Maintain Momentum Crain’s “Fast 50” discuss how to boost growth in challenging times.
What follows is a sponsored recap of an event COVID-19 has changed their approach. were replaced with homebound extras, limited. Personal protective equipment is moderated by Crain’s Chicago Business Senior ShipBob, an e-commerce packaging and such as Disney+ subscriptions and standing available for essential workers. reporter, John Pletz. shipping company (#1 on the “Fast 50” desks. “Employee needs are more diverse list) got an extra boost from the pandemic now,” PerkSpot CEO Jace Mouse said. An early scramble at Redmond he stories of the fastest growing because more people are shopping online. Construction secured N95 masks for its companies share some common The company automates logistics for small to Early on, business stalled at Fulton Grace eld crews, many of whom are in high- themes. Each company, of course, mid-size e-commerce companies so they can Realty. But residential home sales spiked risk age groups. Of ce workers are tested starts with a good idea. But they offer one- and two-day shipping like Amazon. over the summer. “No one expected a weekly and contact tracing is in place. “We Talso know how to pivot quickly in a crisis. “COVID-19 helped us grow faster than V-shaped recovery,” Fulton President T.J. have gotten through this so far without any The pandemic accelerated corporate growth anticipated,” Co-founder Divey Gulati said. Rubin said. He admitted it’s been a “roller sickness,” Redmond said. for some. Others tweaked their business “We are seeing those growth patterns stick.” coaster,” adding that the rental market is model to stay on track. still “tough.” The transition to remote work has been a The pandemic has had a net positive impact challenge, the leaders noted. Data security Crain’s Chicago Business recently brought on business at VillageMD, a primary health Redmond Construction, a commercial is a concern, along with nding ways together the leaders of the companies on care provider. The growth of online patient interiors rm, had already started to sense to collaborate effectively and engage its “Fast 50” list for a virtual salon—a deep visits and remote patient monitoring has that the economy might weaken before employees. discussion on how to grow a company even allowed the company to continue to deliver the pandemic hit. So, a landlord services in tough times. care in a proactive way. “There’s a huge team was created, allowing the company to Engineering and construction contractor movement towards telehealth,” VillageMD quickly shift focus when the pandemic did Ardmore Roderick upgraded its technology The event was sponsored by First Midwest CEO Tim Barry said. He expects company arrive. “We were well positioned,” Director infrastructure to protect company and client Bank. Michael Jamieson, executive vice revenues to reach more than $1 billion next of Operations Jamie Redmond said. “We information. Employees working from president and director of commercial year. When the pandemic hit, the “Fast 50” will exceed revenue this year.” home didn’t have the usual safeguards banking at First Midwest, congratulated leveraged their exibility. available in the of ce. the companies. He noted the importance of Keeping culture alive economic growth to provide employment At PerkSpot, a provider of employee Worker safety has been a top priority, the Gary Anetsberger, CEO at Millennium opportunities and to help Chicago ourish. discount programs, popular travel deals company leaders said. Of ce staff is still Trust, a nancial services company, quickly accelerated adoption of new technology, Providing context, Crain’s Publisher and moving internal systems to the cloud. Executive Editor Jim Kirk noted that the Flexible work schedules have become “Fast 50” companies, combined, grew THE TRANSITION TO REMOTE WORK HAS BEEN the norm. One bene t: the remote work revenue from $3.9 billion in 2014 to $12.6 environment has allowed Millennium to billion in 2019—225.5 percent growth. A CHALLENGE ... DATA SECURITY IS A CONCERN, recruit talent from across the country.
Crain’s Senior Reporter John Pletz kicked ALONG WITH FINDING WAYS TO COLLABORATE Virtual events have helped keep corporate off the discussion. He asked how the culture alive. Zoom trivia nights are companies got where they are and how EFFECTIVELY AND ENGAGE EMPLOYEES. popular. Employees at one company gave tours of their houses. Avionos, a digital marketing rm, formed 14 different pods of 5-10 people for a special toast. “We need something beyond work to keep us connected,” CEO Scott Webb said.
Eager to get their teams back in the of ce, fast-growing companies are staying exible for now—a strategy that seems to be paying off.
PerkSpot opened its of ces and gave employees the option to come in or not. About 10 percent of workers come in once a week. Workers bene t from the change of pace from remote work at home. “It resets them mentally and emotionally,” Mouse said.
At Avionos, parents who want to come into work can reserve a desk for their child to attend school remotely from the of ce.
The company leaders acknowledged that a lot of uncertainty lies ahead. But they’re ready to adjust as circumstances change in order to keep their businesses growing. Kirk at Crain’s concluded the discussion and said, “We will get to the other side.”
P012_CCB_20201130.indd 12 11/23/20 1:14 PM Our company stats during the pandemic: • Demand was up by over 400% • Successfully pivoted our business model to meet client needs • Turned a major league stadium into a distribution site • 900% increase in new clients Did we mention we are Chicago’s largest food pantry?
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20cb0637.pdf RunDate 11/30/20 FULL PAGE Color: 4/C 14 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS COVID clampdown hurts more than restaurants BY ALLY MAROTTI who are itching to get back at it, Gaulin and other boutique studios Boutique tness studios are must compete with larger gyms that pushing back against Illinois’ most are allowed to stay open at reduced recent COVID-19 mitigation e orts, capacity. arguing the ban on group classes Some decry that discrepancy as will further decimate revenue and unfair. However, Chicago Athletic force more gyms to permanently Clubs, which operates seven gyms shutter. and two Pilates studios, hasn’t got- e latest restrictions went into ten close to 25 percent capacity re- e ect Nov. 20, capping capacity at cently, says marketing director Car- 25 percent and nixing yoga, cycling lye Wycykal.
and other group sessions altogeth- e attendance drop is on par TAHLIER ANTHONY er. with other gyms, Wycykal says. e Restaurateur Kevin Boehm launched Bian, a private club with fitness offerings, on the day new state restrictions went into effect on gyms and To survive, Chicago tness stu- company surveyed members and boutique studios. dios are shifting to virtual classes, found people did not want to work like they did during the stay-at- out in a mask—a requirement at back less than half, Schwartz says. dios that will survive will be the ones puncturist, Eastern healer and take- home order in March, and allowing the gym—or preferred to wait for a Like other gyms, Midtown launched that can strike deals with their land- out food—can still operate under members to rent studio space for vaccine. Valid reasons, but also “two some outdoor group classes, but lords, says Phillip Braun, clinical the state’s guidelines. individual workouts. But member- things that are completely out of our those won’t last through the winter. professor of nance at Northwest- Boehm and other gym operators ship numbers aren’t what they were control,” she says. Schwartz says the alliance, which ern University’s Kellogg School of argue their spaces are needed for last spring. Another shutdown tests e tness industry in the state represents more than 200 tness Management. It’s the same in other mental and physical wellness, espe- the loyalty of even the most devoted has more than 1,275 clubs, bou- businesses, has been working with industries that have had revenue cially during a pandemic. customers. tiques, studios, manufacturers and city and state o cials to de ne streams shattered. Like restaurants, gyms spent the CycleBar in River North has lost suppliers, according to the Illinois safe reopening guidelines and help “Bars, restaurants, these bou- summer investing in mitigation one-third of its 350 members during Fitness Alliance, a trade group that gyms abide by them. e latest re- tique gyms, a lot of them are going e orts. Operators say their spaces the pandemic, says owner Abby formed this year. e industry em- strictions have made the situation to be on the breaking point of going already were held to higher venti- Gaulin. Most of the remaining cy- ploys almost 59,000 people. worse, he says. bankrupt,” Braun says. “It’s a very lation standards, and sanitized of- clers have frozen their member- “ ere’s no health club in the U.S. “ ere’s a vaccine on the horizon, dire situation.” ten. Plus, check-in systems facilitate ships. that’s doing well right now,” says but we have to get there,” he says. Kevin Boehm of Boka Restau- contact tracing. “I’m assuming we’ll lose more Steven Schwartz, chairman of the “We need a bridge to get there.” rant Group understands this on e Pritzker administration once we reopen,” says Gaulin, who alliance and CEO of Midtown Ath- e Chicago Boutique Fitness several levels. In addition to han- stands by the restrictions. Illinois launched her business just last year. letic Clubs. “It’s just killing us as an Alliance, a group of 250 studios dling restrictions at Girl & the is experiencing an exponential in- “ ere’s always going to be that fall- industry.” that also launched this year, sent Goat, Momotaro and Boka’s other crease in case counts, spokeswom- out of people just not being ready to Midtown furloughed all 400 em- a letter to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Nov. restaurants, Boehm just launched an Charity Greene says in a state- come back.” ployees at its Fullerton Avenue lo- 20 urging him to reconsider the a private club with a tness center, ment. To capture tness enthusiasts cation in March and has brought ban on group tness classes. Alli- yoga classes and other o erings for “( e) mitigations aim to slow ance co-founder and Studio ree members. e club, called Bian, the spread of the virus by prevent- CEO David Blitz said in the letter opened Nov. 20. ing large gatherings and group ac- that almost a third of independent- “You can imagine how deated tivities, and encouraging people Royal Bank offers commercial loans ly owned businesses in the space the entire team was when we got to stay home as much as possible,” have permanently closed since right to the edge of opening and this she says. “As we have from the be- with attractive rates and terms. March, and “many others are hang- happened,” Boehm says. ginning of COVID-19, the Pritzker ing on by the thinnest of margins.” Bian will persevere, though, administration will continue to rely Some hope for federal help, but Boehm says. It has been in the on the Illinois Department of Public even if that does come, it likely works for three years, and many Health and other experts to protect Contact Michael Lintvelt, Vice President won’t be for months. of its o erings—there’s a full-time the health and safety of Illinois res- 2IƓFH Ř0RELOH Ultimately, the only tness stu- internist, a massage therapist, acu- idents.” (PDLO POLQWYHOW#UR\DOEDQNXV Putting community first since 1887. COMPANIES ON THE MOVE ADVERTISING SECTION
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HONORS, AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS MILESTONES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION PRESENTS Novaspect, Inc. FGM Architects Verve, a Credit Union Schaumburg, IL Oak Brook, IL Oshkosh, WI (847) 956-8020 (630) 574-8300 (800) 448-9228 2020 VIRTUAL www.novaspect.com www.fgmarchitects.com www.verveacu.com Rita Fiumara, CRPS, CIMA, Senior FGM Architects (FGMA) recently Verve, a Credit Union, matched funds Retirement Plan Consultant, Senior completed its 4th generation leadership to extend the reach of a grant from Institutional Consultant and Senior transition. John Dzarnowski succeeds the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHL- CONCESSIONAIRE, Vice President - Investments with John Ochoa as Chief Executive Bank) of Chicago’s Targeted Impact UBS Financial Services in Chi- Offi cer and Tim Kwiatkowski becomes Fund. Verve donated $15,000 to cago would like to congratulate President. Ochoa continues in his role match the FHLBank grant funds and SMALL BUSINESS Novaspect for being awarded the as Chairman of FGMA. Founded in received a bonus of $5,000, totaling 2020 Plan Sponsor of the year 1945, FGMA’s founding partners were $35,000 in grant funds distributed to award. Please visit https://www. Cliff Fields, Jack Goldman & George help small businesses recover from plansponsor.com/awards/2020- Magee. Upon their retirement in the the economic impact of COVID-19. & VENDOR EXPO plan-sponsor-year/ 1970s, Ed Rosenberger led the fi rm The Targeted Impact Fund provides until 1999 when John Ochoa was relief effort grants for populations named President and, in 2001, Chief hit hardest by the pandemic, plus DECEMBER 15, 2020 Executive Offi cer. FGMA specializes in promotes equity and opportunity for projects that enhance the environments communities of color. To date, Verve flychicago.com/VirtualExpo where people live, learn, work, play and has given $50,000 in donations and gather to worship. Headquartered in grants to support its communities. Oak Brook, IL, FGMA is an employee- Verve’s “Let’s All Do This” program owned fi rm with offi ces in Chicago and has allocated over $4 million for O’Fallon, IL; St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX COVID-19 relief to help members with and Milwaukee, WI. personal and business fi nancial needs.
P014_CCB_20201130.indd 14 11/25/20 11:51 AM
File Name: CCB_COTM_113020_V Issue Date: 11/30/20 Prod: DA Size: POTM 3col X 4.2” Version: #1 CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 30, 2020 15 Investor buying South Side apartments from failed nonprofit The nearly $9 million raised in the bankruptcy sale won’t come close to paying o the properties’ debt, but the deal brings the Better Housing Foundation one step closer to winding down its operations here
BY ALBY GALLUN nonpro t’s properties, allowing Grand Crossing. U.S. Bankrupt- well-capitalized investors to take cy Court Judge Jack Schmetterer A housing nonpro t that col- them over and renovate them. signed an order Nov. 17 approving lapsed under $170 million in debt Many of the foundation’s build- the sale. has taken another step to clean ings are in disrepair—some are ough bondholders will re- up its nancial mess, receiving unlivable—and have been cited ceive only about 46 cents on the a bankruptcy judge’s approval by the city of Chicago for numer- dollar in the sale, it could have to sell 17 dilapidated South Side ous violations. Saybrook plans to been worse. Another investor, apartment buildings for nearly $9 spend $2.9 million xing up the Chicago-based Pangea Proper- million. properties it’s buying, a court doc- ties, had agreed to pay only $4.5 Saybrook Fund Advisors, a San- ument shows. million for the properties. e
ta Monica, Calif.-based invest- foundation had selected Pangea GROUP COSTAR ment rm, is buying the 186-unit RECOUPING SOME MONEY as a “stalking horse,” a preferred portfolio from the Better Housing e bankruptcy process also al- buyer in the bankruptcy auction investors in an Oct. 2 auction. e agreed to pay $15.1 million for the Foundation, an Ohio charity that lows the nonpro t to wind down that agreed to buy the portfolio in portfolio Saybrook is buying is in Blue Island property, Blue Station has been selling o its properties its operations here and recoup advance as a way of setting a min- better shape—less risky and less Apartments, at 2130 W. 122nd St., to repay its debts, according to a some of the money owed to the imum price for other bidders. expensive to revamp. Belew says, declining to identify recent court ling. Four of ve bond investors that nanced its But the auction attracted “ e problems can be xed the buyer. at’s well below the Better Housing Foundation port- aggressive acquisition spree here. enough interest from other inves- more easily, and we have the cap- $25 million in bond debt owed on But the bondholders tors to push up the nal price to ital to deploy to x them,” says Jon the property. “WE’RE VERY HAPPY TO ACHIEVE THAT still face severe losses: $8.8 million. Schotz, co-managing partner at Another portfolio—compris- Saybrook is paying just “We’re very happy to achieve Saybrook. ing 528 apartments in Addison, PURCHASE PRICE.” $8.8 million for the 17 that purchase price,” says Andrew Mundelein, Glen Ellyn and St. South Side properties, Belew, who took over as the Better ANOTHER PORTFOLIO Charles—is poised to sell in a Dec. Andrew Belew, chairman and president, less than half the $19 Housing Foundation’s chairman e Better Housing Foundation 4 bankruptcy auction. Better Housing Foundation million in bonds owed and president in late 2018 and has also is poised to sell o its fth After selling o its suburban on the apartments, been leading the e ort to sell its portfolio, one 345-unit housing properties, the Better Housing folios have landed in bankruptcy bankruptcy lings show. properties. complex in south suburban Blue Foundation will no longer own court this year, and the fth and Saybrook emerged as the win- Saybrook was the stalking horse Island. Belew says he expects the anything in the Chicago area. No nal one is headed there in De- ning bidder in a Nov. 5 bankrupt- on a larger and especially run- venture that owns the portfolio one will be more relieved than cember. cy auction for the portfolio, which down batch of properties owned to le for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Belew. e bankruptcy lings rep- includes buildings in Bronzeville, by the nonpro t but wound up protection in three to four weeks. “We just can’t wait to be done resent a positive step for the Woodlawn, Chatham and Greater being outbid by another group of A stalking-horse bidder has also with this,” he says.
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INFRASTRUCTURE CRISIS: Local agencies were nancially constrained even before COVID. PAGE 18 STATURE AT RISK: Chicago’s reputation as a global city hinges on connecting workers to jobs. PAGE 18 HARNESSING TECH: COVID exposed that we are CRAIN’STHE CHI MOBILITYCAGO BUSINE GAPSS underutilizing technology to enable mobility. PAGE 19
Angela Joseph, who works at a Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois customer-support center in Morgan Park, now has a 10-minute commute.
LOCATION, LOCATION A key problem in hiring a diverse workforce is getting employees to work sites. BY ALMA CAMPOS JOHN R. BOEHM R. JOHN
e May killing of an unarmed accessing quality jobs in the rst points to ve reasons why com- jobs where there is a lot of turn- Developed by Boston Con- Black man, George Floyd, by a place. One of the biggest barri- panies should sponsor trans- over,” says Audrey Wennink, di- sulting, the Transportation-Re- Minnesota police o cer and the ers: transportation. portation programs: rector of transportation at the lated Turnover Cost Calculator protests that followed prompted In the Chicago region, 2.8 ◗ Employer-sponsored trans- MPC. “Companies may feel that shows companies how to calcu- many business leaders to ex- million people, mostly those portation programs help com- they can always nd people and late the potential reduction in press solidarity with protesters in low-income communities panies nd and retain quali ed keep hiring and hiring. But our turnover costs by investing in a and vow to adopt more inclu- of color, live in economically workers. thought process is: What if you transportation solution to help sive cultures, including hiring a disconnected areas, according ◗ ey help employees stay em- take those resources out of HR, employees access the work- more diverse workforce. to the Metropolitan Planning ployed. where you’re constantly hiring place. Hiring people who have been Council. Recently the Boston ◗ ey bene t the company’s people, training and onboard- In a recent study by Equitic- historically left out of work op- Consulting Group and the MPC brand. ing, and put those resources ity, the MPC and two Univer- portunities bene ts everyone. joined forces to examine the ◗ ey contribute to the region’s into transportation?” According sity of Illinois students called But to accomplish that, com- transportation disconnect be- economic vitality. to Wennink, this not only gives “Commuting in Context,” 79 panies need to address the bar- tween workers and employers ◗ ey work. people more stability but also focus-group participants were riers that exclude people from in Chicago alone. e report “ ere are a lot of entry-level saves the company money. asked if transportation chal-
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lenges made them miss out on Such programs need to hap- job opportunities. ree-quar- pen for low- and moderate-wage ters said yes. e same propor- workers if businesses want to tion said that transportation address equity, says Wennink was a barrier to keeping a job. at the MPC. “For low- to mod- Half of respondents said they erate-wage workers, transit ac- didn’t own a car and that they cess is very important,” she says. wished companies would de- “Owning a car is a huge house- velop transportation programs. hold expenditure that is not In fact, 26 percent of Chica- within reach of many families.” go households and 13 percent AAA estimates the cost to own of regional households do not a car is $9,282 per year, or $774 have a vehicle, according to the per month. MPC. “For many, the only way to get Some Chicago companies are around is with a car, especial- paying attention. ly when workers have to travel In August, Blue Cross & Blue from suburb to suburb,” says Shield of Illinois opened a cus- Ted Stalnos, president and chief tomer-support center in Morgan executive o cer at the Calumet Park on the South Side. e site Area Industrial Commission, a was transformed from an aban- workforce development center. doned retail store into an em- “Some of them have to borrow a ployee workspace coupled with friend’s or family member’s car, a community neighborhood but this is hard because many of center for employees and com- these workers have late shifts.” munity residents. e center is For situations such as these, located just o Interstate 57 and businesses can look to partner has more than 500 dedicated with organizations that under- parking spots. It is also easily stand the issues and needs of accessible to public transporta- the community to look at pos- tion, with multiple bus routes sible solutions. e Commuting and three nearby Metra stations in Context study suggests that in served by both the Electric and order to address the transporta-
Rock Island lines. BLOOMBERG tion concerns that inhibit mo- BCBS employee Angela The Metropolitan Planning Council says 26 percent of Chicago households and 13 percent of regional households do not have a vehicle. bility, solutions must align with Joseph, 30, is from nearby Rose- social justice experts who are land, a 10-minute commute by tion. However, there are other leading socially and racially just car. Before working at the cus- steps companies can take. systems transformation. tomer-support center, Joseph Numerous Chicago-area “When corporations are cre- worked at a Corner Bakery Cafe companies have instituted pro- Subsidies vs. pretax ating catalytic investment strat- in La Grange. “On a good day it grams to ease employees’ trans- egies and developing ambitious took me about 35 to 40 minutes portation di culties (shuttle goals, they often need a partner on the highway,” she says. “It’s bus connecting to a nearby train deductions: A primer with hands-on experience to nice being close to home for station, subsidized transit fares, support their e orts and exe- a change. It’s a perk I have not full sponsorship or ride-hailing More businesses are begin- ees and companies. Compa- cute on their goals,” says Marie had with other companies I’ve credits). Among them: German ning to see that transporta- nies can o er a combination Trzupek Lynch, president and worked for in the past.” industrial giant Bosch and real tion assistance not only helps of both. CEO of Skills for Chicagoland’s ough Joseph drives, she estate investment management close the mobility gap for If the employer chooses to Future. says she could easily access a rm CA Ventures. employees at all pay grades subsidize, taxes are reduced For example, a partnership CTA bus. “ ere is a bus stop For example, CA Ventures in but also can signi cantly re- for employees and employ- with Skills helped BCBS of Il- right at the end on my street, downtown Chicago covers the duce turnover, often to such ers. e Transit Bene t pro- linois work closely with the and I live about 20 feet from costs of all transit (CTA, Me- a degree that any costs of a gram is administered by em- Morgan Park community and that stop. ere are multiple bus tra and Pace), including Divvy transportation program are ployers and allows workers address unemployment to de- stops along 119th that would bike-share memberships for its partially or fully o set. to have the cost of transit sign a solution that would also drop o right at the parking of employees. A majority of the A recent study by Equitic- rides deducted from their address transportation. “When the facility.” 170 employees take advantage ity, the Metropolitan Plan- paychecks (up to $260 per BCBS of Illinois approached us Opening the center in Mor- of the transit bene t. ning Council and two Uni- month, or $3,120 a year). about their plan to open a loca- gan Park was intentional, says Bosch found that having the versity of Illinois students Businesses can save an av- tion in Morgan Park, one of the Colleen Miller, spokeswoman option of commuting via tran- found, among other things, erage of 7.65 percent in pay- key elements of that plan was for BCBS. sit is critical to attracting talent. that employers need to be roll taxes, and employees can hiring local people from Chica- “We didn’t want transpor- Its North American operations educated on the bene ts of save up to 40 percent on their go’s South Side to work at the tation to be a barrier for the in Mount Prospect are located employee transportation commuting costs annually location,” says Lynch. employees working at our ser- between the Arlington Heights programs. under the program. It’s instructive to look at what vice center,” says Miller. at is and Mount Prospect stops on In Chicago, companies Employees can use transit other cities are doing, Wennink why hiring e orts were focused the Metra UP Northwest Line have the option to participate bene ts for CTA, Metra, Pace at the MPC suggests. In January, around the Morgan Park area. and are served by Pace’s Central in a Transit Bene t program, and the South Shore Line, Seattle passed a Commuter Ben- Almost 70 percent of new hires Road bus line. Bosch has done which allows employees to and there is no minimum of e ts Ordinance, which requires live within 10 miles of the cen- a couple of things to connect its pay for transit through pretax employees that can be added businesses with 20 or more em- ter. “Morgan Park has a pool of employees to Metra. dollars, or to o er a subsidy to the subsidy or pretax ben- ployees to o er employees the e company contrib- to employees. e t. Companies can sign up option of a monthly pretax pay- uted nancially to Pace to A subsidy is an employ- for transit bene ts with just roll deduction for transit or van “FOR LOW TO MODERATE WAGE make a special stop at the er-paid bene t; the Transit one employee. Additionally, pool expenses. e ordinance o ce location three times Bene t program is a payroll no special IRS reporting is re- encourages commuters to use WORKERS, TRANSIT ACCESS IS during the rush hours. deduction made by employ- quired.—Alma Campos transit options other than cars VERY IMPORTANT.” Most recently, the compa- to reduce tra c congestion and ny changed the program to carbon emissions. Denver also Audrey Wennink, a pretax bene t program. commuters from the Metra sta- service and make it more conve- participates and subsidizes the Metropolitan Planning Council Matt Haran, Bosch’s cor- tion to a local o ce complex on nient for riders to take transit to cost of transportation through porate communications Waukegan Road, south of Half and from work,” RTA Executive various programs available for potential employees and is easi- manager, says that at its peak, Day Road. Participants receive a Director Leanne Redden wrote full-time employees. ly accessible,” Miller says. pre-pandemic, about 70 em- monthly Lyft pass they can use in an April 2019 press release. “Chicago should really be do- Setting up shop in a commu- ployees were enrolled. for rides to and from the station. “ is pilot, along with others ing these types of things,” Wen- nity that needs jobs seems like e village of Bannockburn e pilot is funded 75 percent we are considering throughout nink says. “It’s good for employ- a viable solution for businesses has a rst/last-mile pilot proj- by the property manager and 25 the region, have the potential ees in terms of their wealth, and looking for a new location. But ect under which the Region- percent by the RTA. to provide a new solution to the it is also good for the region in it doesn’t apply for businesses al Transportation Authority “ is partnership is an inno- age-old last mile problem and terms of the environment and that already have a xed loca- partnered with Lyft to connect vative way to leverage Metra’s connect riders to their jobs.” sustainability.”
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COMMUNITY VOICES Transportation infrastructure is in crisis he world is at the cusp of autonomous vehicles. e system major mobility innovation. needs to be exible and responsive TJust as unimaginable as it to the changing needs of riders, must have been in the early 20th population centers and work des- century to hear about Henry Ford’s tinations. Employers have a major promise of “opening the highways stake in making sure they connect to all mankind,” we now must have with ready workers, thus necessi- a vision and the will to create a 21st tating public and private sectors century, world-class, modernized work together to imagine and fund transportation ecosystem that eq- new mobility including transit’s uitably serves the mobility needs of capital and operating needs. those who can least afford to drive e Chicago region’s new mo- a car. bility system will require a more Rather than a clean slate, we are dynamic public transit eet that starting with the local, regional and responds quickly to changing rid- national transportation infrastruc- ership demands. For existing tran- ture in crisis. Before the COVID-19 sit routes, this includes new types pandemic, transit agencies were of vehicles that support uctuating nancially constrained, and the capacity and demand-driven hours situation has only become worse. of service operations. In addition, we are grappling with First- and last-mile mobility Kelly O'Brien (top) dated modes of transportation and solutions are instrumental with- is CEO and executive the signi cant problem of rst/last in this network and will need to director of the mile gaps between home and jobs include suburban Metra/Pace Chicago Central and transit stations, leaving pools feeder lines, along with increased Area Committee and of potential skilled workers un- micro-mobility transit, such as Alliance for Regional tapped. Broadly, this includes job ride-sharing, bike-sharing and Development. Steve opportunities around O'Hare air- electric scooters, at origin and Schlickman is trans- port and business concentrations destination stations. Public-sector portation adviser for in DuPage and Lake counties, such transportation entities can partner the Chicago Central as the Interstate 88 and Lake Cook with private and nonpro t opera- Area Committee and corridors, as well as the broader tors to address connection gaps. for demand. An array of new trans- work. ere needs to be a regional Alliance for Regional central area. New mobility specialists tell us portation layers and initiatives can agency that has strong authority Development. Creating stronger connections that everything that moves now is enhance connections, reduce travel to mold the multitude of new and will require a comprehensive going to be interconnected via data, times and better integrate econom- old modal services into a regional mobility system that encompasses new systems and sensors. Streets, ic activity to support future growth. and greater Chicago megaregional streets, sidewalks, transit, bicycles, bridges, rail and roads need to be ere are governance barriers to network. scooters, ride-sharing and future rethought and must be responsive achieving a seamless mobility net- Adequate public funding cannot
COMMUNITY VOICES World-class cities don’t have mobility issues
ap the alarm, roll out of bed night. And the emptiness of our bus- won’t be able to fully participate in the city and close-in suburbs? Or and fire up the laptop. Next es and the el has left many wary of the economic recovery. giving low-income commuters a Tworkday, repeat. Such con- taking transit, particularly after dusk. Even those who can drive will discount when combining e-scooter venience is only a dream for vast ese types of mobility setbacks— face greater cost and unpredictably, trips and CTA buses and trains? Or segments of the labor force, whose and the looming threat of large-scale in part due to having longer trips giving inner-city workers working commutes during the pandemic cuts to bus and rail schedules next and facing growing congestion due nights at suburban warehouses dis- have grown more dangerous and spring amid the continuing budget- to ebbing transit use. e pool of counted ridershare trips to and from difficult. ary uncertainty—risk chipping away applicants for jobs will become nearby transit stops? Recent developments attest to at the bedrock of Chicago’s reputa- smaller and more homogenous, Our public agencies appear the worsening choices available to tion as a global city, which hinges on creating roadblocks to innovation hungry to test such strategies. e Joseph P. Schwiet- many segments in our remarkably connecting our region’s vast pool of and expansion, slowing our region’s city of Chicago’s latest e-scooter erman is a professor diverse workshop trying to get to 5 million workers to jobs. economic recovery. pilot and new electric (pedal-assist) and director of the their jobs. Pace Suburban Bus has At the start of 2020, the Greater Fortunately, many ways to combat Divvy bike-sharing programs, both Chaddick Institute for suspended 73 routes, many catering Loop business district was on a hot these problems are within our grasp. launched this year, are showing Metropolitan Devel- to the service and hospitality sector. streak. Rising numbers of corpora- In addition to maintaining our bus promise. opment in Chicago. Most employer shuttles have been tions tapped into our reservoir of and rail network—a top priority—we As reported in Crain’s, the CTA He is the author of annulled, and it is unclear if they human capital. must also redouble e orts to weave has shown interest in talking with “Terminal Town: An will return once the pandemic ends. Now, the prospect of a sustained together the many disconnected Uber. Metra is providing more Illustrated Guide to Ride-sharing companies have sus- downtown slump and the antici- parts of our transportation system. onboard space for bicycles. County Chicago’s Airports, pended “shared” options like Uber pated shift of many jobs to more How about o ering a at $5 ticket governments are exploring new Bus Depots and Train Pool, relied upon by many working outlying locations raises the specter for riders using both Chicago Transit ways to draw on pre-pandemic Stations.” shifts that start or end during the that more workers who lack cars Authority and Metra services within successes that involve shuttles,
P016-P019_CCB_20201130.indd 18 11/24/20 8:23 PM CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 30, 2020 19
COMMUNITY VOICES Connected, automated, shared and electric
e often overlook the A perfect microcosm of this simple things that are reality for the Chicago area is the Wfundamental to moving O’Hare region. is economi- our daily routine from morning to cally dynamic location serves as night. Most of these enablers run home to hundreds of thousands of quietly in the background, steadily employees. But getting to O’Hare delivering for us, without a hitch. without a car of your own from the One we most often take for granted South and West sides of Chicago is is mobility, whether it be by car, tremendously dicult. train, bus, bike, scooter or your Connected vehicles operating own two feet. more like nodes of a logistics and Jerry Quandt is ex- e disruption of COVID-19 has distribution system will move ecutive director of the made us acutely aware of gaps in workers eciently to and from Illinois Autonomous our mobility systems. Speci cally, the workplace or connect with Vehicles Association. in its ability to serve those who are public transportation. e elec- be overemphasized. In addition to public funding for expanded ser- most dependent upon it. Wheth- tri cation of these vehicles and addressing the transit infrastruc- vice operations. Although we face er we are talking about public or the appropriate rightsizing based ture investment backlog, making scarce public resources, we cannot private mobility, we on real-time mobility transit more accessible to disad- a ord to not cooperate in the pol- were able to see how needs will reduce the vantaged members of the labor icy design, strategic planning and challenging it was MOBILITY carbon footprint. is pool who cannot a ord to drive infrastructure investment for today for essential workers BRINGS HEALTH movement has a name: daily to work will require more and tomorrow. to get to and from CASE (connected, their workplace. AND VITALITY automated, shared and It also highlighted electric) mobility. the massive gaps in WHEREVER IT In Illinois and across supply-chain visibility, FLOWS. the Chicago area, which in turn drove companies are working panic stockpiling and on these technologies. price gouging. All of which raised From digital mapping to intelligent World-class cities don’t have mobility issues people’s everyday anxiety. For transportation systems to supply mobility experts, COVID-19 really chain/logistics, automated vehicle exposed that we are underutilizing systems and the nation’s leading the technology we have to enable electri cation tech, we have the mobility and make our lives better. talent right in our backyard. Not to Mobility is the circulatory sys- mention that in Michigan we have tem of any environment. It brings the top three original equipment health and vitality wherever it manufacturers developing and ows. Economic growth is critical- designing CASE vehicle systems. ly dependent upon the ability to As Albert Einstein is quoted as move people, goods and services saying: “No problem can be solved from one place to another. When from the same level of conscious- these mobility channels are not ness that created it.” Let us make healthy and running eciently, a case for creating a focused e ort then those who it serves cannot be on developing CASE technology in healthy. our neighborhoods today. Let us Fortunately, there are technol- demonstrate how it is an economic ogies that can match workforce driver for our entire community, vanpools and other outside-the-box To assure that diversity isn’t left needs with workforce supply. for all of us who rely on this fun- strategies. But such e orts must now behind, we also need to put our Additionally, there are mobility damental component of life. e kick into high gear. transportation system through a technologies that would allow us most complex problems can be Linking our multitalented work- form of Gestalt therapy, creating to move the workforce from home solved when you are able address force to jobs is shaping up to be a linkages that make the whole greater to the workplace in an extremely the fundamental underlying issues massive post-pandemic problem. than the sum of the parts. ecient manner. causing the problems.
P016-P019_CCB_20201130.indd 19 11/24/20 8:24 PM SPONSORED CONTENT 2020
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iving Tuesday was launched in 2012, with the simple idea of encouraging people to do good. It is now a global movement that has inspired millions of people to give and celebrate generosity. Last year, more than $500 million was donated online G as a part of Giving Tuesday in the U.S. alone. In 2020, this movement and the bringing together of people showing support and solidarity with community organizations is more critical than ever before. Crain’s Content Studio is proud to promote the Giving Tuesday campaigns of the fine Chicago-area nonprofits you see here. Please consider supporting them with your money, time or other resources on this Giving Tuesday and beyond.
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P020_026_CCB_20201130.indd 23 11/23/20 11:12 AM SPONSORED CONTENT
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P020_026_CCB_20201130.indd 24 11/23/20 11:03 AM SPONSORED CONTENT
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P020_026_CCB_20201130.indd 25 11/23/20 11:03 AM SPONSORED CONTENT
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Offering transformative programs Promoting the strengths and such as Becoming A Man®, Working abilities of youth and families On WomanhoodSM, Parent and Addressing the effects of by providing community-based Family Engagement, and Youth gender inequality and systemic services that empower and enrich Workforce Development that racism through innovative and each to face life’s challenges empower youth to reach their comprehensive direct services for with con dence, competence potential and graduate. individuals, families and businesses. and dignity. youth-guidance.org yos.org ywcachicago.org
P020_026_CCB_20201130.indd 26 11/23/20 11:03 AM CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 30, 2020 27
Advertising Section
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE To place your listing, visit www.chicagobusiness.com/peoplemoves or, for more information, contact Debora Stein at 917.226.5470 / [email protected]
ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN BANKING INVESTMENT MARKETING NON-PROFIT
FGM Architects, Oak Brook First Bank Chicago, Northbrook MARS 2 Management & Hirons, Chicago Leadership Greater Chicago, Brokerage, Burr Ridge Chicago The FGM Architects’ First Bank Chicago, Hirons, an advertising, Board of Directors a Division of First Harriet Basiorka public relations Leadership Greater named John Bank of Highland has been promoted and digital agency Chicago, the region’s Dzarnowski, AIA, Park, is pleased to to the position of with offices in premier civic leadership Chief Executive announce Nancy Property Manager. Indianapolis and development Officer. John joined Rollin Boshes has Harriet, also known Chicago, has hired organization, is FGMA in 2007 as the been promoted to Vice as Agent H or H, has Jay Schemanske pleased to announce leader of the firm’s Municipal & President/Private Banking Advisor. been a contributing as senior vice president of the election of Recreational practice. Appointed As the bank continues to grow, Mars team member since strategic communications and Matthew L. Primack PT, DPT, President in 2018, he succeeds Nancy is responsible for advising 2016 while holding the former account services. With 25 years MBA (2016 LGC Fellow and John Ochoa as CEO. He will clients on cash management position of Assistant Property of experience, Schemanske Daniel Burnham Fellow) to lead FGMA’s continued growth, strategies while developing the Manager. H will handle property is a proven industry leader its Board of Directors. Matt is including implementation of the Private Banking portfolio. Nancy management of the Mars portfolio accountable for the success President of Advocate Condell firm’s new five-year strategic joined FBC in 2018. and select client portfolios. H will of both local and national Medical Center–Advocate Aurora plan. Prior to joining FGMA, John be the lead liaison with our leasing advertising strategies. Health with market oversight was a Principal at PHN Architects. brokers. Agent H’s extensive focusing on transformational He served as a Director of AIA customer service experience will health models, trauma recovery Northeast Illinois from 2001-2009 make her an excellent tenant services, and workforce initiatives. and Board President in 2008. relationship manager. Previously Matt served as BANKING / FINANCE President of Advocate Christ Medical Center. Wintrust Commercial Banking, Schaumburg
Chris Conversa joins Wintrust Commercial Banking as senior vice president and brings more than 16 years of ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN industry experience to this role. He focuses PHARMACEUTICAL FGM Architects, Oak Brook on developing new business and providing clients with LAW FIRM Memgen, Inc., Houston The FGM Architects’ personalized service. Most Board of Directors recently, he was with Fifth Third Elrod Friedman LLP, Chicago Memgen, a named Tim Bank as senior vice president biotechnology Kwiatkowski, AIA, and division team lead. He The law firm of Elrod NON-PROFIT company developing President. Kwiatkowski has also served in leadership Friedman LLP is proud novel treatments for joined FGMA in roles at MB Financial Bank and to announce that Abraham Lincoln Presidential cancer and COVID-19, 1999 & was named Cole Taylor Bank. Chris has a Christina Lynch has Library Foundation, Springfield is pleased to welcome Executive Vice President and Bachelor of Science in finance joined the firm as an John Poulos, a Managing Director of FGMA’s from the University of Illinois. associate attorney, The Abraham Lincoln deeply experienced senior St. Louis region in 2018. He led focusing her practice Presidential Library pharmaceutical executive, to its the firm’s growth in Missouri on government ethics, election Foundation (ALPLF) Board of Directors. Mr. Poulos while maintaining its strength in law, and real estate. Prior to has named Erin spent thirty-eight years working Southern Illinois. As President, joining Elrod Friedman, Ms. Carlson Mast, a for AbbVie and Abbott, most he will oversee operations in the Lynch served in the office of the leader in the museum recently as Head of Business firm’s six offices. Kwiatkowski is a CONSTRUCTION Cook County Assessor as the and historic site field Development and Acquisitions board member of the Leadership chief legal counsel. Ms. Lynch and current CEO and Executive for AbbVie. He was instrumental Council of Southwestern Illinois DSI, Chicago will assist in the representation Director of President Lincoln’s in the negotiation of numerous and is a member of the Society of Elrod Friedman’s substantial Cottage in Washington, DC, acquisitions, including Knoll/ of American Military Engineers. Martin Moran and book of local government clients. to be its new President & BASF Pharma for $6.9 billion and Jacob Karamol, have CEO. Erin brings to the ALPLF Pharmacyclics for $21 billion. joined Daniel Mazeiro a distinguished track record as majority owners in leading successful capital of DSI, a full-service projects, research and exhibits, Chicago construction public programming, and firm. Moran joined Moran partnerships focusing on the DSI in 1999 and history and legacies of Abraham oversees the interiors Lincoln and the Civil War. ARCHITECTURE / ENGINEERING division. Marty plays MANUFACTURING an active role in client Infrastructure Engineering Inc., relationships, ensuring Brucker Company, Chicago that construction Elk Grove Village NON-PROFIT services are flawlessly Leadership Greater Chicago, Clint Ferguson, PE, executed. This Karamol Brucker Company, a has been promoted dedication has been leading Chicago Area Chicago to Vice President of paramount for the company, whose manufacturer’s rep firm, Business Development repeat clients account for almost has promoted Brian Leadership Greater at Infrastructure 90% of their business. Allen to Contractor Chicago, the region’s Engineering Inc. (IEI). Karamol joined DSI in 2010. His Sales Manager. Brian premier civic leadership Clint will be responsible background in commercial will be responsible development for IEI’s local and national real estate development and for driving sales and customer organization, is business development strategy, design-build construction growth for our partner companies pleased to announce working with its 4 offices to helped launch DSI’s industrial while providing strategic the election of Tracie enhance client relationships, division in 2015, while leading direction for the company’s sales Morris (Daniel Burnham Fellow) market growth and bottom-line business development for the organization. Previously a sales to its Board of Directors. Tracie is To order frames performance. He brings a wealth company. Industrial and design- engineer for Brucker, Brian brings SVP, U.S. Chief Human Resources or plaques of experience in capture strategy, build projects account for tremendous industry knowledge Officer and Chief Inclusion project risk assessment, project nearly half of the organization’s to his new role. Brian has been Officer for BMO Financial Group of profiles contact delivery and client relations. Prior business generated today. with Brucker for over 15 years where she oversees strategic Lauren Melesio to this role, Clint served as IEI’s and has more than 25 years of and operational governance and at Chicago Operations Leader. experience in the HVAC industry. Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. [email protected] or Previously she led organizational transformations, workforce 212-210-0707 planning, and talent acquisition at Exelon. 28 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
æ`ÛiÀÌÃ}-iVÌ CLASSIFIEDS To place your listing, contact Claudia Hippel at 312-659-0076 or email [email protected] .www.chicagobusiness.com/classi eds
CAREER OPPORTUNITY REAL ESTATE
DATA ANALYST NEW CONSTRUCTION (Citadel Enterprise Americas LLC – Chicago, IL) WATERFRONT HOMES Analyze business reqs & build adv data NEW LUXURY SUB ON LAKE MICHIGAN analytics tools for enterprise-wide Located in Traverse City, MI communicat’n surveillance & regulatory Includes a Boat Slip in Lake Michigan compliance activities. F/T. Reqs a Bach degree Starting at $1.3M • Call Kyle 231.499.9999 (or foreign equiv) in CompSci, App Stats, Visit www.PeninsulaShores.com Math, Engineer’g or a rel fi eld & 3 yrs of exp in the job o ered or in a data science or data analytics role within the fi nan services sector. In lieu of a Bach deg in stated fl d & 3 yrs of exp as stated, will accept a Master’s deg in AUCTIONS stated fl d & 1 yr of exp in the job o ered or advertising opportunities available in a data science or data analytics role within the fi nan services sector. All stated exp must include: adv math & stat model’g techniques To advertise contact incld’g Machine Learning, Natural Language Claudia Hippel Process’g, pattern recognit’n or similar; data product’n, data min’g & data model’g; wrk’g [email protected] with ETL tools & frameworks; creat’g data 312-659-0076 BOEHM R. JOHN BY PHOTOS visualizat’ns & analytics reports in Tableau, PowerBI or similar; programm’g with Python, Perl, R or JavaScript; & script’g with SQL & Weed industry discovers the power of design Unix or Linux shell script’g. Resumes: Citadel Chicagoland’s latest Enterprise Americas LLC, Attn: ER/LE, 131 S WEED from Page 3 Dearborn St, 32nd Fl, Chicago, IL 60603. business news and events. JOB ID: 5131836. ChicagoBusiness.com Cresco Labs’ new Sunnyside store in Schaumburg next to Wood eld Mall is three to four times the size of its original med- ical-marijuana dispensaries. e company’s revenue rose 60 per- cent in the third quarter from the previous three months, helped in OUR READERS ARE part by the new Schaumburg store. 125% MORE LIKELY TO As competition has moved from winning licenses to creating a INFLUENCE wow factor for customers, upfront OFFICE SPACE costs are rising in an already cap- ital-intensive business. Two large DECISIONS cannabis companies estimate that the new-generation stores cost about 50 percent more to build out. at puts pressure not only on existing operators but also new The Greenhouse dispensary in Skokie features a winding staircase and glass-topped display cases. entrants—particularly social-eq- uity applicants—that hope to win shops in as many blocks. same trends roiling traditional re- 75 retail licenses. “Because there’s more competi- tail. As a strategy to cut down on Medical-cannabis stores were tion, the stakes are higher to have crowds in the wake of the corona- about the size of a bank branch a nicer space,” Magali says. virus pandemic, dispensaries en- or small fast-food restaurant and Jeremy Unruh, senior vice pres- couraged recreational customers were tucked away in industrial ident of public and regulatory af- to preorder online. at has com- parks. e new stores often are fairs at PharmaCann, which has panies rethinking store sizes and the size of a Walgreens and locat- four stores to build out, says, “Our layouts. ed along high-tra c commercial original stu was all just Ikea. Now “Now we’re in a post-COVID corridors. we all have a better sense of the environment, where do you want “It’s a much smoother expe- market. We know what we want to people to linger?” Unruh asks. rience, like walking into Old Or- build.” “I’m thinking about the Starbucks chard,” Dan Gable of Chicago says experience and how that’s transi- of shopping at the new Green- CHALLENGES tioned from a counter and seating house store. “ e old stores were Designing a weed shop comes to an app and a drive-thru: You’re like walking into a bank safe.” with plenty of unique challenges there for 45 seconds and leave. Marijuana shops are attract- because of strict security rules. “ at’s not to say consumer ex- ing retail design veterans such as In Illinois, the marijuana itself is perience isn’t important. I’m not Wettlaufer—who worked for Aber- kept in the most secure area of the sure it needs to be this cathedral crombie & Fitch, J. Crew and Petco store until it’s sold. at makes it experience,” he says. before joining Grassroots about 18 hard to display actual products, Andy Poticha, CEO of Cannabis months ago—because it’s a new particularly smokable marijuana Facility Construction in North- industry. buds. So Magali relies on a wall brook, which has done projects “It’s still deciding what it wants of glass display cases attached to in multiple states, says some are to be,” says Jaime Magali , owner of the high-security area. considering drive-thru windows. Find your next Steep Architecture Studio in Evan- “It’s challenging to walk into a (Illinois law speci cally prohibits ston. Her rst cannabis project was place with all the security mea- them.) corporate tenant or leaser. ve years ago for Dispensary 33 in sures we have and not have any- “If they nd over time that pre- Andersonville. She added Viola body notice,” she says. orders are going to be the wave of Brands, which is developing stores Weed has become one of the few the future, then the design will be in St. Louis and in Michigan. bright spots in retail because it’s very di erent,” he says. “You have She’s now working on Dispen- still growing. Englewood Construc- to think about a separate place to sary 33’s new shop at 1152 W. tion in Lemont has done work for have preorders lled versus hav- Randolph St. in Fulton Market, Green umb Industries, Verano ing people shop in the store. You which is four times bigger than Holdings, Herbal Care and Windy might come in one way, go out the Andersonville location. It’s in City Cannabis. About 40 percent the other. I’m not sure the size of Connect with Claudia Hippel at a former restaurant and across of its business this year will come stores will change much. You’ll [email protected] for more information. the street from a competitor on a from the marijuana industry. need more back of the house than street that has three new cannabis Still, marijuana stores face the oor space.”
P028_CCB_20201130.indd 28 11/25/20 2:50 PM CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 30, 2020 29 Chicago restaurants opening amid industry’s darkest days
RESTAURANTS from Page 1 but to go forward, Muser says. “ e machine that a business RestaurantData.com. is requires it to wake up,” he says. e risks are obvious. Restau- “Your spreadsheet tells you you’re rants with well-established cus- opening on this day and you will tomer bases are barely surviving. start selling reservations on this Indoor dining is banned through- day. is is what will happen, oth- out the state, and some Chicago erwise this idea won’t go forward.” restaurants are closing their pati- Ever opened over the summer, os, too, losing yet another revenue o ering diners eight to 10 courses stream. for $285 per person, not including Restaurant operators have a gratuity and drinks. With capacity higher risk tolerance than most, limits, it was serving 35 to 40 people Gellman says. e pandemic has a night. at lasted three months not changed that. It also has not until the latest indoor dining shut- slashed a new restaurant’s chances down. of survival too drastically: 5,500 U.S. Ever started o ering $55-per-per- restaurants are closing each month, son to-go meals, plus a la carte op- Lucas Bumba, left, and Matt Bumba reworked their model for Milk Money Brewing in La Grange. up from 4,500 pre-COVID. tions, in early November. ey’re “It has never been an easy in- reaching more people, Muser says, meal boxes, lunch o erings and “Now we see what customers of in this style,” he says. “It’s got dustry. Almost all (restaurants) do but it’s not the model Ever was built more. e restaurant is set to open want menu-wise, they know what agility and it’s protected.” fail within seven years anyway,” for. its storefront in December and is working well with delivery,” she Not all restaurants that have Gellman says. “It’s always been that “ e bottom line is, to-go is not add to-go beer. says. “ ey don’t have to rethink opened in the past eight months way. It hasn’t changed.” going to solve anyone’s problem - Without indoor dining, Milk their whole model; they can just go have been able to nd silver lin- Caruso acknowledged that open- nancially,” he says. “It’s slowing the Money is realizing 55 percent of right into that.” ings. e Outpost Mexican Eatery ing Rye now was a “shot in the dark, bleed.” its original projected revenue, says Arturo Gomez, a former found- had its soft opening just days be- for sure.” Like other restaurant op- Nobu Chicago, a Japanese Lucas Bumba. However, it cut al- ing partner in Rockit Ranch Pro- fore the city shut down, says owner erators, though, Caruso doesn’t let restaurant in the new Robert De most 70 percent of projected op- ductions, and his business part- Anna Kamilis. the risks consume him. Niro-backed Nobu Hotel, was years erating costs, and the business is ners took lessons other operators e grand opening never hap- “ ere’s an idea, a sense that you in the making and opened Oct. 1. cash ow-positive. learned and applied them to their pened. e thousands of em- could put all this energy into it and at was about a month before the “We didn’t want to create a mod- new fast-casual restaurant in River ployees that previously ocked to it could fail,” he says. “ at’s prob- indoor dining shutdown. e West el where we were just holding on,” North. work in and around the Old Post ably to say that we’re accustomed Loop restaurant has since launched he says. “We wanted to gure out a Edie’s All Day Cafe & Bar, which Oce, near the Outpost, haven’t to it.” takeout and, like many restaurants, model where we can thrive in this Gomez describes as “upscale ca- returned. e lootings that shook For some operators who were sold to-go anksgiving dinners. environment.” sual,” launched in August. It was the Loop in June didn’t help, ei- themselves out of work, opening Just as importantly, they have in the works before COVID and is ther. was the only option. Others want- PIVOTING created consumer habits, Lucas Gomez’s rst fast-casual joint, of- e taco joint is still open. Many ed to be ready when the world goes Others, whose plans weren’t so Bumba says. When Milk Money fering to-go options and focusing of its customers have been con- back to some semblance of normal. set on in-person dining, have found eventually o ers dine in, he hopes on daytime services. struction workers. Diners who do Like Rye, many new restaurants advantages to opening a restaurant customers will keep coming to ll As such, the cafe has been able come in are supportive, Kamilis were already underway. catered to a pandemic world. their fridges, too. to adjust quicker than a full-service says. ere just aren’t many. Construction was about halfway Lucas and Matt Bumba reworked Knowing pandemic dining restaurant would, Gomez says. It’s “ e only thing I can do is to done at Ever, a ne-dining restau- their model for Milk Money Brew- trends helps new restaurants mit- a style he expects will be part of a come to work and stay positive. I rant from Michelin-starred chef ing in La Grange. Instead of opening igate risks, says Lori Rakoczy, new class of businesses that open haven’t made a dime since March, Curtis Du y and co-owner Michael a restaurant in March as planned, it senior manager of research and up post-pandemic. but I’m paying two people and Muser, when restaurants shut down launched an online butcher shop insights at market research rm “I think you’re going to see more they’re keeping their homes,” she in March. and pantry boxes in May. Technomic. ey get somewhat of brands, more businesses in the says. “I don’t know what else to do At that point, there was no choice ey’ve also done anksgiving a second-mover advantage. hospitality industry open up kind but this. So I’m doing it.” Enova seeks to be in position for rebound once pandemic-induced slump ends ENOVA from Page 3 open and expand. Moody’s Investors Service on since the onset of the pandem- extra support rather than spend- “ at’s why (the vaccines) are Oct. 30 rearmed Enova’s debt ic, Enova has seen its charge-o s ing it. percent small business and 40 extremely good news when you rating following completion of the and delinquencies fall. In the third If credit quality holds up, an- percent consumers. think about how our small busi- deal but issued a negative outlook. quarter, Enova wrote o just 2.8 alysts believe Enova will have a Ordinarily, given what small ness products can grow over the “ e negative outlook re ects the percent of its consumer install- head start on more cautious peers businesses have su ered during next six to 12 months,” Fisher says risks to creditors from remaining ment and small-business loan bal- as the economy continues to re- COVID, that wouldn’t be a good in an interview. operational risks associated with ances. Another 3.7 percent were at cover. thing. But OnDeck’s credit qual- Taking this opportunity, when integrating the OnDeck business, least 30 days behind on payments. “We believe this type of envi- ity has held up well so far. If that most consumer nance compa- particularly during a period of Normal charge-o s for Enova are ronment will allow (Enova) to ag- continues, Enova CEO David Fish- nies have pulled back on lending, substantial economic volatility between 10 percent and 14 per- gregate market share over time as er believes the company is posi- to expand so dramatically also stemming from the coronavirus cent—higher than ordinary con- weaker competitors recede and as tioned for a bigger rebound than it gives Enova the chance to take pandemic,” the ratings agency sumer lenders but a normal range higher quality borrowers poten- otherwise would have been once advantage of scale when borrow- wrote. for a company that lends at high tially enter into its market as tradi- er demand returns rates to middle-class consumers tional lenders tighten,” wrote Je e- “I’M A MIDWESTERN BOY. . . .YOU KEEP in earnest. “ at’s FORTIFIED with tarnished credit. ries analysts in an Oct. 27 note. a lot of the impetus e good news, Moody’s said, Credit quality remains a wild One thing Fisher won’t do is to YOUR HEAD DOWN. YOU BUILD A GREAT behind the OnDeck was that Enova is forti ed with card, especially since COVID rebrand OnDeck. He realizes On- deal,” he says. “In on- $490 million in unrestricted cash spread is worsening and econom- Deck has a far more recognizable TEAM AND GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.” line, scale makes a big and another $124 million in credit ic relief from Washington, D.C., name with small businesses than David Fisher, CEO, Enova di erence.” it could access, “which should al- has all but dried up. Lenders at- Enova’s brands do with them. With OnDeck add- low the rm to fund its operations tribute much of their unexpect- “We’ll be investing in the OnDeck the country emerges from a pan- ed, Enova now employs about until well into 2021 without need- ed good fortune in terms of low- brand,” he says. demic-induced slump. 1,700, with 700 of those in the ing to access the capital markets.” er-than-expected loan write-o s And what does Fisher think Recent news that vaccines in Chicago headquarters and anoth- For Enova, key to going on of- to the trillions Congress and the about running the country’s largest production have demonstrated er 200 in Enova’s north suburban fense and taking advantage of its Trump administration provided company in his industry? Enova, better-than-expected ecacy Gurnee call center. OnDeck’s em- clear scale advantage over com- for enhanced unemployment ben- for its size, has kept a lower pro le bodes well for lenders to the small ployees are in New York, with an- petitors is the stability of its exist- e ts, forgivable small-business than rivals that have had white-hot businesses that live on until vac- other 250 in Denver. ing borrowers. us far, like other loans and one-time payments to days in the sun, only to stumble. cines become widely available, First things rst, though. And consumer lenders, Enova’s credit consumers. “I’m a Midwestern boy, born likely in the second half of next that’s integrating the largest ac- quality has been remarkably be- But Fisher also says consumers and bred in Chicago,” he says. year. Businesses that have tapped quisition of the 20 or so Fisher has nign given the economic shock weren’t as highly leveraged com- “You keep your head down. You all their existing credit lines just to done as a CEO, both at Enova and from the virus. ing into the crisis, and many have build a great team and go about survive will need loans to fully re- other companies. Making signi cantly fewer loans beefed up their savings with the your business.”
P029_CCB_20201130.indd 29 11/25/20 2:51 PM 30 NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS Neighbors buy midcentury in Lemont to save it The couple plan to keep the ‘time capsule’ interior intact as much as possible, down to the pink and orange bathrooms, and build three new houses on the oversized lot that will complement but not imitate its style BY DENNIS RODKIN in 2009 and Felix in August of this attracted “several interested par- year. ties, including builders who want- A couple who lives down the e house is on about ed to demolish it,” and went under block from a midcentury house in three-quarters of an acre, room contract to the Ganzes the same mint condition bought it to pre- enough to build four new homes, day. e sale closed Nov. 23 at vent homebuilders interested in Wilczek says, and “it was abso- $550,000, 10 percent over the ask- the oversized lot from demolish- lutely at risk of being torn down.” ing price. ing it. Lemont’s housing market is strong Michelle Ganz says they plan to “It’s like a time capsule,” says this year, with year-to-date sales “restore the house to its original Michelle Ganz, who bought the up about 20 percent at the end of glory,” preserving all interior fea- house, built in 1961 on Florence October from the same time a year tures they can, and resell it. e Street, on Nov. 23 for $550,000. ago, which makes buildable land asking price is not yet decided. With a brick facade pierced by particularly appealing. ey will also build three new glass blocks and its original inte- homes on the land and are now rior nishes including wood and SAVING THE HOME working with an architect to de- stone and both pink and orange Wilczek says the Donofrios’ es- sign homes that will complement bathrooms, “it’s really cool and in tate, which she represented in the but not imitate the original, Mi- pristine shape,” Ganz says. “By no sale, emphatically did not want chelle Ganz says. means would we want to see this the 1,900-square-foot home torn At this early stage, she believes torn down.” down. the new homes will each be about e house retains its original Ganz and her husband, Chris- 2,500 square feet and two sto- look, including built-in kitchen tian, run Ganz Builders, a small ries. e midcentury house is a appliances, because it was in the homebuilding operation that one-story. hands of one family from the time completes about one house a “We’re not looking to build gi- it was built until this year, says list- year. Christian Ganz is also a re- normous homes there,” Michelle ing agent Christine Wilczek of Re- ghter in Lemont. Michelle Ganz Ganz says. “We want to keep them alty Executives Elite. says they were friendly with Felix a ordable.” She says the prices Felix and Jacqueline Donofrio Donofrio for several years and had have not yet been determined, but
had the home custom built, Wil- long daydreamed of buying his that “everything in the range of ELITE EXECUTIVES REALTY czek said, and lived in it for the house. $525,000 to $625,000 seems to be next several decades, “maintain- It came on the market Sept. 14 selling fairly well,” indicating she’ll MORE PHOTOS ONLINE: ChicagoBusiness.com/residential-real-estate ing it impeccably.” Jacqueline died with an asking price of $500,000, target that price range.
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P030_CCB_20201130.indd 30 11/25/20 11:59 AM CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 30, 2020 31
Amazon meets resistance among advocates 294 90 94 1111 N. CHERRY AMAZON from Page 3 deindustrialization of the economy. come in Bridgeport. e pro-devel- Square footage: 51,970 Warehouse and van delivery jobs of- opment crowd may nd it easy to 2801 S. WESTERN ose sentiments exist even on the fer opportunities for people without dismiss them as squeaky-wheel en- Square footage: 150,261 Chicago Plan Commission, which approved a college education—not as good vironmental activists or not-in-my- the proposal, but by a narrow 8-6 as the union factory jobs of the 20th backyard provincials. But the oppo- 2420 S. vote, a rarity for a panel often viewed century but with better pay, bene ts nents do have an in uential partner 290 HALSTED as a rubber stamp. Two other recent and more stability than many retail, in their corner: the Metropolitan Square Cicero projects—the bungled Hilco ware- restaurant or service jobs. Lightfoot Planning Council, which sent a let- 3535 S. ASHLAND footage: house development in Little Village has identi ed the transportation, ter to the commission asking it to Square footage: Unknown 112,000 and a controversial scrap-metal distribution and logistics sector as a reject the development. Downers plant planned by General Iron on core part of her economic plan. Rather than raising concerns the Southeast Side—have increased “We as Chicagoans have to accept about environmental racism, the awareness of environmental justice that this sector is part of Chicago’s council found aws with the city’s 55 issues in the city and boosted the ac- future economy,” Cox, commission- planning process and argued that a tivists promoting them. er of the Department of Planning & riverside property is not the best lo- Open Amazon 10500 S. WOODLAWN But Amazon o ers an economic Development, said at the Plan Com- cation for a warehouse. warehouse 3507 W. 51ST Square footage: 143,000 Square footage: 316,550 growth story that’s hard for local of- mission meeting, where he voted for Commission Chairwoman Tere- Proposed 294 cials to resist, especially in the mid- the Bridgeport proposal. sa Cordova also sided with oppo- Amazon dle of a recession. e Seattle-based nents. She expressed support for a warehouse Palos company has been expanding at an APPROVAL NEEDED proposed moratorium on rezoning Heights astonishing pace, signing leases for In Bridgeport, Amazon would properties for logistics projects, more than 14 million square feet move into a 112,000-square-foot which would give the city time to eet of delivery vans. e company trous demolition of a power plant on of warehouse space in the Chicago delivery station built by San Fran- come up with a plan to deal with aims to have 10,000 electric vans on the site that blanketed Little Village area in just the rst half of 2020. It cisco-based Prologis, the largest them. the road by 2022 and its entire eet in dust. Charges of environmental already employs 25,000 people on a owner of industrial real estate in the “We’ve got to do it in a way that of 100,000 running on electric by racism followed. full- or part-time basis in Illinois and country. ough the 23-acre site at doesn’t repeat the mistakes of our 2030. “I think what kind of started this plans to hire another 15,000 here. 2420 S. Halsted St. already is zoned past,” Cordova says in an interview. Yet Amazon’s seemingly unstop- (scrutiny of distribution projects) In the city, Amazon needs more for industrial uses, the project needs A coalition of environmental and pable ascent has brought increased was the whole Hilco thing,” says “last-mile” warehouses like the one extra approval from the city because neighborhood groups, including the scrutiny over more than just its envi- David Doig, president of Chicago in Pullman—the company calls it sits next to the South Branch of the Bridgeport Alliance, cite city health ronmental record. Its critics fault the Neighborhood Initiatives, one of them “delivery stations”—where Chicago River. data showing that the Southwest company’s labor policies and say its the developers of the Amazon ware- vans pick up products ordered Amazon, which tends to be tight- Side already has some of the highest jobs are second-rate. And a group house in Pullman. “ at created a online for delivery to customers’ lipped about its real estate plans, pollution levels in the city. ey con- of progressive aldermen in Chicago bull’s-eye on these kinds of facili- homes. e company just opened a hasn’t even acknowledged its in- tend emissions from Amazon trucks see Amazon as a cash cow, recently ties.” big warehouse in Gage Park, and it volvement in the Bridgeport proj- and vans in Bridgeport would only proposing a head tax on retail and Amazon is also facing resistance recently cut a deal for another one to ect—an open secret now—leaving make the problem worse. logistics rms. Lightfoot quickly shot in Bolingbrook, where it wants to be built on the site of a former Wrig- the approval process to Prologis and Richard Klawiter, an attorney rep- down the idea. build a massive ful llment center ley gum factory at 3535 S. Ashland its legal team. resenting Prologis, disagreed, telling When it comes to the Bridgeport that the village’s mayor opposes, Ave. in McKinley Park, according to “We are constantly exploring new commissioners that only 16 to 21 warehouse, Prologis may have suf- chie y over trac concerns. people familiar with the transaction. locations and weighing a variety of trucks would visit the property a day. fered from bad timing, proposing its e debate over the Bridgeport Amazon continues to hunt for more factors when deciding where to de- “ e air quality impact is quite de project after the Hilco asco in Lit- proposal isn’t over. It still must pass sites in the city. velop sites to best serve customers, minimis,” Klawiter, a partner at DLA tle Village. Northbrook-based Hilco the City Council, which could vote Fueled largely by the rise of however, we don’t provide informa- Piper, said at the hearing. “It’s simi- Redevelopment Partners has been on the plan at its December meet- e-commerce, distribution and lo- tion on our future roadmap,” Ama- lar to a big-box retailer or a grocery widely criticized for a big warehouse ing. gistics represent one of the few zon says in a statement. store.” it’s building in the neighborhood, Defeating the project may be a growth industries for many Chicago Several people told the Plan Com- Amazon also plans to cut emis- initially over trac concerns but long shot, but that won’t stop its op- neighborhoods hollowed out by the mission that the company isn’t wel- sions by electrifying its growing more recently because of a disas- ponents from trying. Durbin angles for powerful committee post while nudging Madigan toward door DURBIN from Page 1 helping usher President-elect Joe drigan lost her congressional race, tration with the speaker’s operation. ing out downstate and around the Biden’s judicial nominees through omas Kilbride lost his Illinois Calling the Democratic Party of Illi- s t a t e .” that would give his party control of con rmation hearings. e same Supreme Court seat and Rep. Cheri nois “dead last” among state parties, Not that Durbin wants Madigan’s the Senate. day, Biden tapped Reema Dodin, Bustos stepped down as head of Durbin says it has served largely to job. Asked how he views his own As minority whip, Durbin, 76, is Durbin’s deputy chief of sta , to help the Democratic Congressional preserve Madigan’s power in the role in the party going forward, he the second-highest-ranking Dem- run his Oce of Legislative A airs. Campaign Committee after near- House, rather than helping recruit, says supporting “good candidates ocrat in the Senate, where he’s According to Durbin, senators ly losing her seat in Congress. All train and fund candidates up and any way I can.” He’s not a member served for nearly 24 years. At the from both parties “are fed up with were tagged—accurately or not—as down the ballot. of the state central committee that end of the fth term he won this the way the Senate is being handled Madigan acolytes. “He just wasn’t engaged as a party chooses DPI leadership. Even if month, he would tie the 30-year by McConnell. . . . ere’s virtually no “ at’s why I said what I did,” chairman,” Durbin says. he was, it’s not clear members can tenure of Illinois’ longest-serving oor activity, no legislation, no e ort Durbin told Crain’s. “He is not help- Madigan disputes that in a state- do much before 2022, when a new U.S. senator, Shelby Moore Cullom, to allow his membership to engage ing our state party and its candi- ment, saying DPI has trained thou- chair is chosen, unless Madigan who was in oce from 1883 to 1913. in the issues of the day, and many of dates by being chairman. He is the sands of volunteers, candidates and leaves voluntarily. Durbin’s proxy Yet he has little power to move them are now speaking out.” biggest problem, the biggest chal- poll watchers, and protected the on the committee is his state di- legislation in a Senate controlled While Durbin’s criticism of Mc- lenge they have, when they run for 2020 count. He also credits the or- rector, Bill Houlihan, who says he’d by Republicans under the iron- st- Connell and President Donald election.” ganization for Democrats’ control consider stepping up. ed rule of Majority Leader Mitch Trump has become routine, he Political observers saw Durbin’s of statewide constitutional oces, Despite the increasing criticism, McConnell. Barring a Democratic surprised observers when he took remarks as a turning point for Madi- “an overwhelmingly Democratic Madigan retains considerable sup- upset in Georgia, Durbin’s policy direct aim at Madigan after Election gan. Illinois congressional delegation port among Democrats who value goals—improving the A ordable Day in an appearance on WTTW’s “As soon as I heard Durbin say and supermajorities in the Illinois his fundraising prowess, campaign Care Act, COVID relief, infrastruc- “Chicago Tonight,” saying “his pres- that, I said this is it. is is the rst House and Senate.” apparatus, connections to Black ture spending and his decades-long ence as chairman of our party has time I’ve said to people, ‘Madigan’s In the mid-2000s, Durbin turned and Latino leadership, and success- push for comprehensive immigra- not helped.” done,’ ” says Christopher Mooney, to the Democratic County Chairs ful track record of building up his tion reform—face a tougher road. Durbin’s statements opened the professor of state politics at the Uni- Association as an alternative to own supermajority. Yet Durbin con- Durbin sees another opportunity door for sharper criticism from versity of Illinois at Chicago. “He DPI. He helped the DCCA get the tinues to make the case for change. to expand his in uence. On Nov. 23, other top Illinois Democrats. Sen. would not have said that o hand- Democratic National Committee’s “It is time for Illinois to break he said he wants to succeed Dianne Tammy Duckworth and Gov. J.B. edly. He would not have said what voter le for Illinois—a data trove of away from the embarrassing chap- Feinstein, who is stepping aside as Pritzker both called on Madigan to he said cavalierly or out of anger. He names, ages, addresses and voting ters that we’ve had when it comes the ranking Democrat on the pow- relinquish the party role he’s held said it strategically.” and donor histories. DCCA “is the to corruption and to lead the nation erful Judiciary Committee. It’s an since 1998. e comments came after 15 state party now, as far as I’m con- in ethics,” Durbin says. “It would call important post regardless of wheth- Durbin blames Madigan for the years of Durbin quietly building a cerned,” Durbin says. “It does the for some real courage in the General er Democrats are in the majority— Election Day woes of three close party infrastructure out of Madi- work . . . of organizing for elections, Assembly, but I think it’s long over- Durbin would be responsible for political allies. Betsy Dirksen Lon- gan’s reach and a simmering frus- coordinating campaigns, reach- due.”
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