Larry Dempsey (1910-1988) - founded Batavia Enterprises, Inc.
Larry (Lawrence) Dempsey) and his son, Gerry, built Batavia Enterprises Inc (www.bataviaenterprises.com)
which is now celebrating its 50th Anniversary. BEI
develops and manages a full range of properties in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles,
Elburn, West Chicago, Rockford, Wasco, and Sugar Grove.
Larry came to Chicago during the Depression, having accepted an engineering
position at Sears Roebuck’s New Product Development department.
Though the job was challenging and
demanding, Larry always maintained that to have work is "a privilege" and that
hard work was expected. He eventually
settled in the Fox Valley area after Sears asked him to help run one of their
important suppliers, Dunbar Kapple. The
company had bought what is now the Burgess Norton factory in Geneva after moving
from Chicago, Illinois.
Larry thrived in an entrepreneurial environment, so much so, that when Sears
wanted him back, he negotiated instead to purchase their share of Dunbar-Kapple
and stay. Mr. Dunbar was in charge of
marketing and administration; Mr. Kapple in charge of finance, and Larry was
responsible for engineering, manufacturing and sales.
Dunbar-Kapple operated in several buildings in Batavia, including today's City
Hall and the Challenge windmill factory on the East Side.
While working in the Batavia area, Larry
became familiar with the community and began to consider investing in real
estate. The former US Wind Engine
and Pump Company facilities in Batavia were used to manufacture munitions during
WWII and through the mid 1950s.
After the munitions plant was closed and the property was put up for auction,
Larry Dempsey and Bill Zimmerman organized a group of investors and were the
successful bidders. This became his
introduction to the real estate property management business in 1959.
Eventually Dunbar-Kapple was sold to Katy Industries of Elgin, Illinois. As a result, Larry joined Camcar
Screw and Manufacturing Company, located in Rockford, Illinois.
On weekends he would work on his new real
estate venture and being a landlord.
Larry enjoyed visiting the various tenants and especially appreciated those
involved in manufacturing or in businesses that made a product. He would say that it was the
"entrepreneurial flair and can-do attitude" that had kept businesses going
throughout WWII. "People kept producing
even when the outcome of the war was in doubt. He
always appreciated the “can do” attitude which seemed to be a common thread of
the new Batavia Enterprises tenants.
Larry retired from Camcar in the mid-70s. When
properties became available and he thought there was a "fit" into the Batavia
Enterprises portfolio he would attempt to acquire those sites.
He was always interested in
entrepreneurial initiatives. "He
encouraged his new customers to focus first on how to make their business
sustainable, then look for opportunities to grow.
He was always good at building a team and motivating people.
As Batavia Enterprises Inc. grew, so did
the need for additional staff and management.
Larry’s son, Gerry, joined the organization in 1980 and he has continued
the success and growth of the Batavia Enterprises Inc. portfolio.
Larry Dempsey (third from the right) at the ground breaking of the Batavia
Plaza 1961
Batavia Enterprises is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and is grateful to all
their customers who have allowed the company to grow, expand and offer business
opportunities to the local entrepreneurial environment.
If you are interested in the CBEID project, please contact: Ernest Mahaffey (630-406-5321)
