Roeckers Inc. back in business

When the former Foster and Gallagher business in Peoria shut down, the facility offered so much to the former Roeckers Cabinet Inc. business — based in Morton since 1951 — that the owners could not resist.

The then owners decided to move from its Morton location into the Peoria facility in 2004. After years of costly renovations to the facility and an economic downturn, the business began to struggle and was forced to close its doors in December 2008.

Half of the business’ employees were from Morton — many were with the company for decades — and the crew had become a team. So, when the business shut down, it was tough for its loyal employees to swallow.

“It was so sad,” said Roeckers Inc. current part owner Don Osterman. “We were all out of a job.”

Osterman has been with the company for 36 years. He, too, was out of a job. He took over as part owner of the business just after it closed, with a new strategy in mind. The new company was renamed from Roecker Cabinets Inc. to Roeckers Inc. and officially opened for business in February 2009.

“We decided we would keep things going,” Osterman said. “But, we had to make some changes. We wanted to bring it back to its roots.”
Osterman said the company developed a reputation of being expensive, so he and others knew prices were going to have to drop to be successful.

“We thought, if we’re going to start a new company, we have to lower prices,” he said.

With some sacrifices, that was possible, he said.

“We kept our jobs, but only 75 percent of our salary,” he said.

It was a sacrifice that was not ideal, “but, at least we got to keep our jobs,” Osterman said.

Employees voted out their union contract, which said a lot about their trust in the new owners, Osterman said.

Since then, the business has been working on solid ground, he said. More importantly, those who had worked for the business for so long were able to come back to work, he added.

“There are an awful lot of people who are in a similar situation,” Osterman said. “It has been quite a story, and we have been fortunate.”

Osterman said he believes very strongly that Roeckers Inc. would not be in the shape it is today without the loyal base of employees and customers.

“What makes Roeckers is the people,” he said. “Without them, this doesn’t happen.

“It took a lot of faith and cooperation,” he said. “A lot of Morton people were leaning on each other to make this work.”

Roeckers Inc. now rents the Studio 29 offices to other businesses with an interior-design focus. The facility is located on Route 29 in Peoria Heights. Much of the cabinet work — shaping, coating and assembly — is done right there in the facility by employees who have been with Roeckers for years.

While the longtime Morton business is back in good standing in Peoria, there is still progress that needs to be made, Osterman said.

“We still feel like there is a way to go,” he said. “But, to be able to keep the doors open and keep a paycheck, that’s a victory. We anticipate that the toughest part is behind us.

“It’s been a year and eight months. So far, everything we’ve been trying has been successful,” he added.

For Osterman, nothing has been more rewarding than working with his longtime co-workers.

“My passion has never been (profits),” he said. “What keeps me going is the relationship I have with the people working here.”

Kenny Rassi, another part owner along with Kim Lopatka, said he is happy to see the business return to success.

“What I hoped would happen has happened — keeping us all working,” he said.
Rassi formerly worked in the shop prior to the company’s transition in 2009. His father worked in the shop for 46 years.

“I worked with a lot of these guys in the shop. So, it was a lot of friends that (lost their jobs).”

Now a part owner, a lot has changed for Rassi, he said.

“The biggest part for me was the amount of responsibility,” he said. “I used to be the guy that didn’t have to make decisions, but that’s changed.”