Forty Miles From Native Home, Lipski Finds Another in Morton Grove

Bea Lipski's day starts at 6 a.m., 90 minutes before on Dempster Street opens and 45 miles away from its Morton Grove location.

She lives in Antioch, Ill., with Minuteman Press co-owner and husband Ken, who accompanies her, Monday through Friday, as they leave their home in near-darkness, drive to the Milwaukee District North Metra train station in Fox Lake, ride the regional train to the Morton Grove stop at Lehigh Avenue and walk to 6038 W. Dempster St.*

And then when their print and copy business closes at 5 p.m., they do it all over again in reverse.

"It's a long day," Lipski said with an audible sigh, reflecting on her daily routine. "Taking the train was something we should've done years ago."

But once she arrives at her destination — an immaculate storefront situated on Morton Grove's main artery — those commuter anxieties quickly fade away. In fact, Lipski views Morton Grove as just another homely extension of Antioch, where her daughter and other relatives live.

"We like the community. We like the people. We like the diversity," she said. It's just an active, interesting place to work in."

The retired high school English teacher entered the Minuteman Press franchise six years ago after her husband attended a trade fair. His father had already lived in Morton Grove, so he was familiar with the business climate along Dempster Street.

Since then, Lipski said she's been able to weather the economic downturn and other extended hurdles — such as parking restrictions due to the Dempster Street reconstruction project — by remaining involved in various business organizations and committees. Minuteman Press is currently a member of both the Niles and Morton Grove chambers of commerce, the latter of which Lipski sits on the board of directors.

What results is a win-win situation, she said: They support local businesses and raise their own community profile in the process.

"We go to luncheons, dinners, open houses, activities — we just have a common thread, and they become our friends and customers," Lipski added.

The dedicated networking also led to 2010 being "the best year here," she said. But Lipski quickly added that she owes partial credit to her business partner, too — the guy behind the wheel at 6 a.m. every morning.

Still, she said the husband-wife duo simply works because of the unique qualities any female can bring to customer relations.

"I think that many times when you deal with women … we just communicate in a different way," Lipski explained. "It just seems like many people gravitate toward that connection. I think it's up and coming, and it will continue."

*Correction: Original story was published with incorrect street address.