Passion, Perseverance and Resilience; the Midwest Motors Way

Dating back to his elementary school years, Midwest Motors founder and President Benjamin Ripstein had already begun to grow his entrepreneurial roots, amid humble beginnings.

Ripstein was brought up in Buffalo Grove by parents who adopted him when he was just 10 days old. His mother was a school teacher and his father a union bread truck driver.

He got his start in business selling homemade Christmas ornaments door-to-door at the ripe old age of six. His first business was established at the age of 12, after he bought a bunch of used lawn mowers at garage sales and hired neighborhood friends to mow lawns for his customers.

When he was 16-years-old, Ripstein received a gift from his grandmother that would set him on a specific course in his future professional life; the rusted out, fixer-upper Chevy Cavalier was something he always cherished. Right from the start, he was inspired to make that car the best it could be. From hand detailing it to ensuring the brakes would allow him to stop, Ripstein developed a true passion for cars and a meticulous attention to detail. From there, he began to purchase inexpensive cars, fixed them up and sold them for a small profit - all while attending Buffalo Grove High School. Since then, he has owned several vehicles, ranging from Volkswagens to Porsche's and many makes and models in between. Though the cars change, his desire to make them as pristine as possible has always remained the same.

After putting himself through college courses, Ripstein's professional career began at a computer business he started as a young man. He worked hard and did well for himself, which enabled him to satisfy his love for cars. He was finally able to afford the higher-end vehicles he previously admired from afar. He did take note that many times at the dealerships he frequented, the cars had small imperfections. That also became something that would influence how he did business in the future.

In 2009, Ripstein took his passion for cars, and made it into an actual business; that is when Midwest Motors was born.

Just starting out, he found warehouse space in Volo, Illinois where the rent was affordable. He began to buy and sell all types of vehicles from Jeep Cherokees to the high-end, luxury and exotic pre-owned automobiles he grew to love over the years. In addition to sales, he also opened a detail shop at the same location so he could provide the best possible product for his clients - as free from imperfections as possible. Midwest Motors continued to grow over the next few years, and Ripstein began to travel throughout the U.S. on the hunt for the rarest cars from private collections and highline auctions. He prided himself on hand-picking his inventory to provide the most sublime quality for his growing clientele.

By 2012, the business was running out of space in Volo, and Ripstein looked south and east to Lake Zurich. He learned Capaccio Brothers planned to close its doors, and with the help of an SBA loan, he obtained the roughly 30,000 square foot building at Cortland Drive and Route 22. The location boasts a showroom that accommodates 75+ vehicles, a customer lounge with amenities such as a putting green, pool table and coffee bar, as well as a detail center.

Midwest Motors continued to thrive, and Ripstein opened another business called MMI Service in 2013 on Rand Road, also in Lake Zurich. It was designed to complement Midwest Motors by providing intensive detailing and inspection services to bring any and all parts of the vehicles he sold into tip-top shape. To back up the confidence he had in his products and services, Ripstein began offering the Midwest Motors Certified Pre-Owned Warranty, which provides eligible vehicles a 3-year or 100,000 mile warranty at no additional cost.

A serious challenge came about for the business on March 24, 2014 when a fire started on the building's second floor during business hours. Though no one was injured, and none of the vehicles impacted, the smoke and water damage exceeded $1 million. Ripstein was forced to relocate the business temporarily in early April of 2014. The Village of Lake Zurich was instrumental in finding a location for the luxury dealership in the village's industrial park, to keep it running. To make things even more exciting, Ripstein and his wife welcomed their first child into the world this past September.

Just before the holidays, Midwest Motors was finally able to move its operations back to its Lake Zurich building, where its grand re-opening was recently celebrated. "We have weathered quite the storm and are ready to begin the New Year with our best foot forward," Ripstein said.

When asked what he is most proud of regarding his business, Ripstein said it is not only his continued growth over the years from a young start-up to an established business, but the fact that he is able to hand select the vehicles he offers for sale. He also is proud that he can offer a vast inventory to fit a variety of budgets, and find whatever vehicles his clients are looking for; from a work truck to a fun summer sports car.

"This aspect of Midwest Motors is a personal touch that you won't find in most franchise dealerships," Ripstein said.

Community involvement and giving back is something that is very important to Ripstein. Midwest Motors has sponsored the Rock the Block event in downtown Lake Zurich since its inception, The Lake Zurich Car Show and numerous Lake Zurich sports teams. Ripstein also served on the advisory board for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) to nurture and guide young business owners.

Area non-profit organizations are invited to utilize the Midwest Motors location for fundraising events, at no charge. To inquire about hosting an event at the location, contact Events with Style at 888-671-2922.

To learn more about Midwest Motors, visit them online at www.midwestmotors.com.