Libertyville mayor embarks on quest to visit all local businesses

It's not quite a "Dirty Jobs" adventure, but Libertyville Mayor Terry Weppler is getting a firsthand look at local businesses.

Weppler has embarked on a quest to visit the obvious and not so obvious offerings in town and to document the experience for the village website.

Call it a bucket list effort for Weppler, who coasted to a third term in last April's election.

"Back when I was elected, I wanted to make sure I visited all of our businesses and have never gotten around to doing that," he said. "I decided I would set up a program that put some pressure on me to visit businesses."

"Mayor's Business of the Day" is featured prominently on the website as coming soon, but a start date hasn't been determined.

With 990 listings in the village's online business directory, Weppler has no shortage of potential stops. At this point, a relatively short video documenting his visits is envisioned to run every weekday once it debuts.

Weppler says he wants to theme the businesses to specific times - fitness clubs or health food stores to match New Year's resolutions or a tax service in April, for example.

"The idea behind the videos is to make them fun (or funny) and interesting so people start watching on a regular basis," according to Weppler.

Assistant Village Manager Kelly Amidei has shot several videos so far with a new GoPro, and Economic Development Director Heather Rowe is being trained to use the equipment.

"Don't be surprised if you see the mayor in action," Rowe said. "They're not intended to be commercials per se for the businesses - he's trying to make it realistic exposure."

It doesn't get more real than Ultimate Ninjas Libertyville, a business that opened Nov. 24 at 732 E. Park Ave. (Route 176). The venture is headed by Mike Silenzi, a five-time American Ninja Warrior and three-time Las Vegas finalist on the nationally televised show.

Weppler tried some of the obstacles during an open house there and later returned with Amidei, Rowe and the GoPro.

"Because he had such a good time here, I wasn't surprised he wanted to do a business of the day," said Silenzi, who is well acquainted with cameras.

"I love it. They had a really nice GoPro that's going to take great videos," he added.

Rowe said the village routinely makes business retention visits but also wants to promote what's in town and encourage business-to-business purchasing and use.

Most residents are aware of many of the retail shops and restaurants but there are "a lot of interesting industrial businesses," such as robotics and soundproofing firms, she added.

"We've already mixed it up," Rowe said. Stay tuned.