So far, June looks like it will be one of Video Replay’s biggest months, says owner Ron Norinsky. “June has always been our best month and this year it didn’t disappoint.”
But it’s also ironic, because his 36-year old video equipment rental and post/duplication company will officially close its doors July 15.
That’s when the new owner takes possession of Norinsky’s squat, one-story, 4,000-sq. ft. building at 118 W. Grand Ave. that he originally purchased at an IRS auction in 1982. Sale of the property, he says, “will allow me to live comfortably and channel my energy into meaningful things.”
Norinsky came close to ending his business in 2009, when the convention business – representing Video Replay’s biggest clientele – was in turmoil, the economy went south and the much anticipated business-boosting Olympics bid failed. “We’re done,” he says he told his staff.
He decided to sell his building and property and merge his company and $200,000 worth of equipment inventory with Steve Spano’s Show Services in Burr Ridge.
The merger fell apart, for whatever reason, and Norinsky soldiered on. “We managed to keep the business alive and pay our bills. I had had insane offers for the building in 2008, but they dribbled down to a few nibbles in 2009,” he calls.
Then, a few months ago a young realtor came along with the right offer which Norinsky unhesitatingly accepted. He seems rather amazed that the building will be converted into a restaurant in an area teeming with restaurants and night life.
(Actually, the restaurant will exclusively serve brunch, which should prove to be a very popular concept. After all, it worked for Ina’s in the West Loop.)
Cary Klein and equipment to merge with Show Services
The indelible Video Replay brand will remain with Norinsky, while the equipment rental division will complete its earlier deal and merge with Show Services the first week of July.
As part of his decision to shutter the business, Norinsky had given the rental division to rental manager Cary Klein, who will join Show Services as one of its nine employees as part of the merger.
Fifteen-year old Show Services supplies a great variety of large-scale venue staging equipment to more than 400 events a year.
Says Klein, “I’m keeping the rental number, 312/822-0221, so the transition should be seamless for my clients,” which he numbers at around 1,500.
To sell off duplicate gear, Klein will hold a private sale June 23-26 at the Grand Ave. facility.
Norinsky and son Mitch will office at 676 N. LaSalle
Norinsky and his son, Mitch Norinsky, will stay in the neighborhood, sharing offices in the nearby 676 N. LaSalle St. building.
The junior Norinsky, who ran Video Replay’s post/duplication and new media departments, will continue operating his Back Star Creative Media, a webcasting and streaming video business.
As Video Replay, Norinsky will retain just one client, Illinois Information Service, which has utilizes Video Replay to facilitate press conferences and uplinks for state government officials for many years.
Other than that, Norinsky says, he will be available for consulting on projects and planning large scale events that require live projection.
“I want to spend time volunteering with organizations that are important to me,” he says, noting a long association with Bruce Dumont and the Museum of Broadcast Communications, where he will be very much in attendance at the MBC’s new building preview, June 16.
The Norinskys can be reached at 312/467-0425; Emails, ron@videoreplay.com and mnorinsky@backstar.com.
