Family opens audio, visual businesses, jewelry store in Lombard
Classical music plays softly as Lori Mesa preps for visitors wanting to browse the antique jewelry and fine art carefully displayed in her new shop.
Walk through a glass door on the west side of her store and you're in a different world.
Her husband, Henry Mesa, is explaining the audio and video work his company does for hospitals, hotels and universities, in the midst of bright, sharply focused TVs playing an action movie.
The opening of three businesses owned by the Mesa family was celebrated Thursday at Mesa Electronics, Inc. and Mesa Audio and Video at 130 E. St. Charles and Lori Mesa Antiques & Fine Jewelry at 134 E. St. Charles in downtown Lombard.
"We're happy to be here," Henry said. "We've gotten a lot of compliments on what we've done to the building. It used to be a heating and air concrete jungle. It's now a state-of-the-art electronics facility."
Mesa Electronics, Inc. was established 28 years ago. Primarily, the company provides electronic equipment to the health care industry, such as video walls at the University of Chicago Medical Center and TVs in patient rooms at Christ Hospital. Other projects have included the installation and maintenance of screens in hotel bars and lobbies, college lecture halls and the skyboxes and suites at U.S. Cellular Field.
Mesa Audio and Video is a new endeavor for the family and something Henry said he agreed to try in an effort to "give back to Lombard" by offering retail. Anyone is welcome to walk in to the business to browse and purchase TVs, speakers and other electronic equipment.
"We're not trying to compete with hhgregg, Abt or Best Buy," Henry said. "We have a very niche market. We represent LG primarily as our residential TV. Because we're technicians first, we know which models will reproduce the better image at the right price point. That's what we're offering, more of an expertise feeling."
Despite moving its headquarters to Lombard, the company is keeping a satellite office open in St. Charles. It also operates in New Jersey and hopes to open another location soon in Ohio.
Lori is continuing to operate a shop by appointment only in St. Charles, too. In Lombard, the walls of her store are covered by large art pieces in elaborate gold frames and glass cases are filled with high-end necklaces, bracelets, rings and other antique items, like handbags and jewelry boxes.
The business, originally called The Old Jewelry Shop, was started by Lori's grandfather in the 1930s. It included locations on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and Highland Park, both which are now shuttered.
"We have a lot of clients on the Northshore and in the city because that's where we're from," she said. "It's one of the reasons why I thought it would be a good idea for me to open (in Lombard), because St. Charles is very far. It's a little closer to them and the train is here. It's a little bit easier for them to get to."
Some of the jewelry styles include Art Deco, Edwardian, Retro Modern and Georgian and pieces date back as far as the early 1800s. Much of it comes from dealers and estate sales, but Lori purchases a lot on her own as well, in places like London and Paris.
"It's just so beautiful and they don't make it like that anymore," she said. "I like to have someone tell me what they want and I find it for them. It's like a treasure hunt. It's a lot of fun."