Last Man Standing, Printer Survives in Otherwise Empty Riverbank Plaza

Larry Stybel’s multi-colored business card has no special catch-phrase for his business. He describes exactly the product on which the name is imprinted: Business Cards, Etc.

But Strybel, whose official business address is 6437 W. Dempster St., could easily add a tag to the card: “Sole Proprietor.”

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That’s exactly the status of Business Cards, Etc. at the Riverbank Plaza strip-mall, squeezed between the banks of the north branch of the Chicago River and Lincoln Avenue just before it ends at Dempster. Strybel’s company, in its present quarters for 22 years, is the only storefront out of 10 occupied in the mall.

“I was told I could stay here as long as I want or until we sell all the property. They said, 'don’t send anybody else here, we don’t want to become a landlord'.”

In a left-handed way, he’s a real standout. No one can miss his front door. And there’s plenty of parking spaces. Yet Strybel is fortunate to not suffer the same fate as actor Jesse White playing the Maytag Repairman in mid-20th Century commercials, twiddling his thumbs in his loneliness because no one needs his services.

“Business is very good,” he said. “I could use more space.”

Property moved through foreclosure, bank failure

A commercial printer with two other employees, Strybel could take over as many storefronts as he desires, but likely won’t. He’ll eventually move, as the Riverbank Plaza is part of some of the most troubled property in Morton Grove.

And Morton Grove isn't alone. According to a recent report, the first part of 2011 saw mall vacancies hit an 11-year high.

With townhouses blooming further south toward the early in the 2000s, a developer purchased the property on which the old Maxwell’s and Studio restaurants, two longtime local staples, stood. He also acquired Riverbank Plaza. A village building permit dated Sept. 19, 2007 for the development of “Preserves of Morton Grove” is affixed to one window of a long-departed business.

But the date of the permit is telling. The housing market had just started to crash with the overall economy soon to follow. The developer went into foreclosure, according to Strybel. The property reverted to New Century Bank, said former tenant Ted Heinz, a dentist who moved a half-mile east on Dempster. New Century Bank failed early in 2010. FDIC online records showed insured accounts and other assets were assumed by MB Financial.

An MB Financial spokeswoman said her company’s policy is not to comment on such property, and thus refused to confirm that MB Financial is the present landlord. A call to Baum Reality, which apparently is the real-estate broker hired to market the property, was not returned.

The limbo-nature of the property means a pretty good lease deal, at least for now, for Strybel.

Open-ended lease

“I was told I could stay here as long as I want or until we sell all the property,” he said, while declining to identify the property owner. “They said, 'don’t send anybody else here, we don’t want to become a landlord'.”

Heinz wishes Strybel well. “I left in April 2009,” he said. “I couldn’t get a lease. If you want any kind of security, get out. If security is irrelevant, you’re in a good spot.”

Strybel and his staffers have worked in near-solitude since the bar closed and Heinz moved two years ago. He estimates perhaps a half-dozen customers come through the door each day. The majority of his business comes from out of state. He displayed an order from Uruguay as an example.

Only a few signs of his former neighbors remain. The satellite dish is still affixed to the roof of the former Trackside Tap pub. Signs referring customers to the new locations are taped to the windows of Heinz’s old offices and that of Orman Chiropractic clinic, which moved a few doors down from Heinz on Dempster.

He recalled in the 1990s when all but one storefront was occupied. In addition to the dentist and chiropractor, a food store and clothing store were tenants. Trackside Tap was the anchor.

“This used to be a very popular bar,” Strybel said. “If a Hawks game or Cubs game was on, the lot would be filled up completely. Then it became an older generation bar. The owner came by one day and said he’s closing.”

Strybel is overjoyed he has more parking than he needs. He feels for his former business neighbors and other retailers and restaurants affected by the re-construction of Dempster that ended on-street parking.

“The parking is desirable,” he said. “This is the time of the year (with early sunsets) where you dislike having female customers to park behind the building. If and when I move, I’ll be in a place with parking.”

He has parking now. No fender-benders for his customers in a crowded lot.