New Glenview Businesses 'Roll the Dice,' Open Doors Amid Economic Downturn

The concept of starting a new small business in the midst of economic tough times sounds pretty bold.

So, when Patch published a, we weren't surprised it drew such positive reaction. Readers connected with the risk-taking spirit of local entrepreneurs and business owners wanting to tell their story reached out to Patch.

“We’re so pleased that these new businesses opened in the midst of tough times and hope they are here for many years to come,” shared Ellen Dean, Glenview’s economic development manager.

“In good times and bad, entrepreneurs will always find opportunity where there are customers, an employee base and good transportation access. Glenview has all of these – and a public that supports its local businesses.”

Here, Patch serves up a second helping of bite-sized new business introductions. Sit back, relax and see how and why these spirited small business owners opened their doors during seemingly inpportune times--and made it work.

, 2532 Waukegan Rd., 847.486.8815

A downturned economy would hardly compare to the experiences of Trung Truong, founder of Glenview’s first Vietnamese restaurant. Truong fled North Vietnam’s takeover of South Vietnam in 1975. He lived in a refugee camp before finally landing in Chicago – just in time for the blizzard of Jan. 1979. Talk about both culture and climatic shock.

But Truong found his way in a new country, starting two other “Noodles” restaurants, one in Lombard, the other in Naperville. In September 2010 he opened a Glenview location-- virgin territory for a type of cuisine Truong says health-conscious Americans desire.

“We cook our soup for two days, cook with the beef bone, and no MSG,” Truong said. “People don’t want that extra salt in their food. The challenge is the customer expects a lot more than ever before – good food, good service, a nice environment to dine in and the price has to be good.”

, 1312 Waukegan Rd., 847.730.3677

Longtime Glenview residents and friends Dolly Cipolla and Vanessa Podgorski believed the Village was in need of a community-oriented yoga studio. The answer? The pair opened Samadhi, offering beginner, intermediate, warm and hot classes seven days a week.

“Relax, energize, renew,” said Cipolla. “These are just a few of the things we all need to do for ourselves especially in this economy. Everyone needs to take care of themselves; now more than ever. This is the place to do it.” Podgorski admitted opening the studio was “a little scary from a financial standpoint, (but) the opportunity presented itself and we jumped right in.”

Cipolla heads the instructional staff, many of whom hail from Glenview and Golf. Instructors include: Beth Jerva, Debbie Whipple, Erica Leibrandt, Jan Alexander, Joanne Richter, Julie Leahy, Kelly Golding, Megan Miller, Robin Daniel, Sheila Dixon and Susan Burden.

, 2660 Navy Blvd., 847/486-0700

Bob Farster got out of the mortgage business and its attendant pressures. With his first child on the way in 2008, he wanted to get into a kid-friendly line. So, in November of that year, in spite of the spiraling economy, Farster opened his youth hair salon in

“We never planned to open during the recession,” said Farster, adding he’s in a marathon, not a sprint, as a business owner. “The timing wasn’t easy, but we made the best of it and I’m happy with that. I have a great staff, many of whom have been with me since the beginning, and we have wonderful customers.”

The salon, which is a franchise, has fire engines and police car chairs that kids can sit in as they watch movies, play with toys and get their hair cut. Farster has done well enough to prompt a second location, which will open in Mt. Prospect this March.

1245 Milwaukee Ave., 224.567.8580

The chiropractic clinic run by Jim Lopez and Nick Kuennen opened in January 2011. The pair had worked for others, but wanted to strike out on their own. And, after eating at Lopez fell in love with Glenview.

“The neighborhoods reminded me of my neighborhoods back home in California,” he said. “A lot of green. We used to drive up here from the West Loop to eat at Hackney’s. My office was in Oak Park.”

The economy was a factor, but in a different way, for the opening of The Wellness Source.

“We almost looked at it as better opportunity,” Lopez said. “As the economy goes down, people can’t afford to get sick. We help people understand how to be more proactive with their health.”

2050 Tower Dr., 847.730.5275

Yes, it was harrowing to Julia Wilson, director of studio operations, to begin Make a Messterpiece in The Glen Town Center, in September 2009 just after the trough of the recession. But the startup was cushioned by sponsorship money from Proctor and Gamble, plugging its Bounty paper-towel line. Get it – Bounty cleans it up?

The mess in “Messterpiece” is made by children, who are free to get as gooey and slimy as they want all while learning valuable skills like measuring, concocting recipes and crafting science experiments. And Wilson said she's noticed a trend among successful local businesses: many cater to children.

“There are declining opportunities for kids to be messy and creative,” said Wilson, who is not above wielding a broom--or a mop and bucket--after her charges. One day she’ll see kids coming up with homemade toothpaste. Another finds the students romping in a combo of dough, flour and oil.

Like at the nearby , classes are drop-in, Wilson said.

1940 Lehigh Ave., 847.730.5531

Owner Steve Dam “decided to roll the dice” when he opened his own personal-training operation in August 2009 amid economic turmoil. He had a new technique called “muscle activation,” and could only do it where he called the shots, not working for someone else at a health club. 

“We figure out where you have tightness or limitation of motion," Dam said. “We work with the body. Everyone else is trying to stretch (out muscle problems)."

Dam, together with his team of four other trainers, works with clients of various fitness levels ranging from those "who have the regular aches and pains to top athletes," he shared.

Getting clients to understand his concept is half the battle, Dam said. “It’s about getting people in the door to see how we do it--it’s word of mouth.”

  2401 Sanders Rd., 847.326.0301

When motorists will drive around looking for 5-cent-per-gallon cheaper gasoline, having a sandwich shop attached to the station could give you an edge. “Get gas, get a sandwich, jump on the freeway,” said manager Ashouk Patel of adding the Subway to the AM-PM mart in Oct. 2011.

But patience is a virtue. “We thought it could be a winner, but it’s not that busy because of the winter,” Patel said. “We're waiting for spring. We did hire four more people, and look to hire more.”

Patel is hoping gas prices don’t shoot up again as has been the summer pattern. “If it’s high, it’s not good for us,” he said.

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