Lake Zurich dealership reopens after 2014 blaze

A northwest suburban luxury vehicle dealership reopened after a 2014 fire that caused more than $1 million in damages and displaced the business for nearly seven months.

Midwest Motor, 540 Courtland Drive in Lake Zurich, celebrated its official grand reopening Saturday, according to a statement.

The fire occurred March 24, 2014 just after 5 p.m. on the second floor of the dealership, the Sun-Times reported at the time. When fire crews arrived, smoke was found coming from the second story roofline.

Everyone in the building was able to get out safely and no injuries were reported, fire officials said at the time.

The first floor of the dealership housed late-model luxury and exotic vehicles, according to the fire department. The vehicles were removed from the building and “the majority had no damage,” though the sales and showroom did sustain water damage.

“I am extremely thankful to Mayor Tom Poynton and the Village of Lake Zurich for their quick response to the fire, and the outpouring of help and compassion from the community,” Benjamin Ripstein, owner of Midwest Motors, said in a statement.