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New Lake Zurich auto dealer offers ‘boutique-style shopping’
Midwest Motors' showroom stocks luxury vehicles and the sales offices are located upstairs. | Michelle LaVigne~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 5, 2013 11:52AM
LAKE ZURICH — Village officials, residents and even many former naysayers have welcomed a luxury used car dealership to Lake Zurich.
Midwest Motors opened in December at 540 Cortland Drive.
“It’s not the typical dealer experience; we have a much more intimate relationship with our customers,” said Midwest Motors president Benjamin Ripstein, adding that he would never pack his outdoor lot with cars for his customers to navigate.
Midwest Motors features the majority of its cars inside its 30,000-square-foot building, which previously was occupied by the Capaccio Brothers furniture store.
The showroom and online inventories include makes like Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. Prices range from $30,000 to well over $100,000.
In addition to the showroom, Midwest Motors’ new Lake Zurich location offers a full entertainment area with pool tables and flat-screen TVs, complimentary soda and cappuccino, and a bird-cage style elevator.
“It’s more boutique-style shopping, and we have a much more intimate relationship with our customers,” Ripstein said. “Our biggest thing is that we respect our customers’ time and want to make them feel like they are at home here.”
The long-time car connoisseur initially opened Midwest Motors in Volo in 2009, while he was still working in the computer business. Ripstein’s career change came in response to what he said was an industry void of businesses catering to luxury car fans.
“Before, when I was just a consumer, I was very dissatisfied with luxury car dealers; would notice flaws in their vehicles, and they would say ‘well, we can fix that,’” Ripstein explained. “I thought ‘why fix it after-the-fact, when you can do it prior to sale?’”
To find his cars and accumulate the Midwest Motors’ inventory, Ripstein said he flies across the country to find what he considers to be the best late-model, low-mileage luxury and exotic vehicles.
In addition to auto sales, Midwest Motors also provides customers with services like detailing, which includes wet sanding, buffing, waxing and full interior cleaning; window tinting; paint protection; and paintless dent repair.
Ripstein said he’s currently running a special offer for Mobil 1 synthetic oil changes for $69.95 and full exterior and interior detailing for $99.
“While one dealer may spend an hour to detail a car, we’ll spend a day or more on it,” Ripstein said.
Before Ripstein moved the dealership from Volo to Lake Zurich, some residents voiced concerns that it would be a nuisance.
The Hawthorn Woods resident ultimately sold many naysayers on his business model and operations after holding two informal public forums to discuss the concerns.
Lake Zurich resident Sergio Chapa, however, was among those who spoke in favor of the dealership’s move to the area at a Village Board meeting last summer.
“I’ve been up to the Volo location, and it’s real nice,” Chapa said at the July 2 meeting. “I think we could use it here and it will fit well.”
Dale Perrin, executive director of the Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce, also spoke highly of Midwest Motors, pointing out that customers fly to the area to pick up their cars, which would help support business in the area.
Village officials ultimately granted Ripstein a special use permit in July, allowing Midwest Motors to sell new and used luxury cars at the Lake Zurich location.
