MSI Celebrates Chicago’s “50 Over 50”

This year marks MSI’s 50^th anniversary, which we think is cause for a major celebration (read: party)! 

Since our own Dave Weiner has been MSI’s fearless leader since opening up shop in 1961, we started wondering about other area companies that share a similar story… After doing some research, we found that there are quite a few Chicagoland companies that have been owned and operated by one person or family for 50+ years – so we figured we’d celebrate their success along with ours while we’re at it!

Enter the “50 Over 50” Celebration – an idea that we dreamed up earlier this year that’s now becoming a reality.  As the name suggests, we’re selecting 50 independently owned and operated companies that have been in business for more than 50 years.

We’re visiting with the owners of these companies to learn about their rich histories, hear their craziest stories from the past five decades and get their secrets to success.  Then we’re taking their inspiring stories and putting them in print, along with photos of their work in action, with a coffee table book dedicated to the “50 Over 50” honorees.  We’re also creating a website that showcases each of the companies involved. 

In addition to receiving a complimentary copy of the book, each participant will also be invited to toast to our collective 2,500 years in business at a cocktail event later this year.

So far, we’ve lined up an impressive roster of companies across a broad range of industries.  To date, our “50 Over 50” participants include the following:

1. Manny’s Deli 
2. Lou Mitchell’s
3. Garrett’s Popcorn
4. Butch McGuires
5. Elkay Manufacturing
6. La-Co Markal
7. Fishman Fabrics
8. Billy Goat Tavern
9. Superdawg
10. Dinkel’s Bakery
11. The Talbott Hotel
12. National Van Lines
13. Laystrom Manufacturing
14. Anderson Lock Company
15. Club Lago
16. Marshall Thompson and the Chi-Lites
17. Bill Brown Sales
18. Iwan Ries Tobacco
19. Central Camera
20. Leona’s Restaurant
21. Baird & Warner Real Estate
22. The House of Glunz
23. Tucker Company Jewelers
24. American Fluorescent
25. Sally Ann Corset Shop
26. H. Horwitz Jewelers
27. Paulina Meat Market
28. Bergoff
29. Italian Village
30. Archie’s Bar
31. Swanson’s Blossom Shop
32. W.S. Darley
33. The Bagel
34. MSI (of course!)

And the list continues to grow every day!  If you have a suggestion for a company we should consider for the “50 Over 50” celebration, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 50fifty@msinet.com.

You can also learn more about it here – http://www.msinet.com/50fifty/.

Stay tuned for more updates as we toast Chicago’s thriving independently owned and operated companies!