Don't forget "A Night in Support of Haiti" tomorrow night!

Tickets are still available but going fast for Erie-LaSalle Body Shop's "A Night in Support of Haiti" 75th anniversary party, happening Friday, Feb. 26 from 5:30 p.m.- 9 p.m. at Martini Park (151 W. Erie St.).

Admission is $40 in advance ($50 at the door) and grants access to the open bar with wine, beer and specialty cocktails like the Erie Latini, Fender Blender, Haitian Mojito and more. Martini Park is also providing some of its signature appetizers to be passed during the party. Tickets can be purchased at www.erielasalle.com/haiti.

Special announcements will be made at 7 p.m. including an appearance from Illinois Governor, Pat Quinn.

Guests will also be able to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win exciting prizes including a one-hour flight in an L-39 fighter jet donated by Bill Wert of Gauntlet Warbirds, plus gift certificates to Chicago's favorites restaurants like Mercadito, Wildfire, Keefer's, Fogo de Chao and Gino's East. Other prizes include a personal training session as well as a personal organizer session.

All proceeds from "A Night in Support of Haiti" benefit Partners in Health, a charity that has been working on the grounds of Haiti for more than 20 years. For more information about Partners in Health, visit www.standwithhaiti.com.

Erie-LaSalle Body Shop is celebrating 75 years as Chicago's premiere automotive repair business. Erie-LaSalle Body Shop is third-generation owned family business priding itself on quality customer service and quality craftsmanship, receiving the I-CAR Gold Class Professional certification. For more information, visit www.erielasalle.com.

"A Night in Support of Haiti" presented by Erie-LaSalle Body Shop, Feb. 26

In honor of its 75th anniversary, Erie-LaSalle Body Shop is hosting a charity event "A Night in Support of Haiti" 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 at Martini Park (151 W. Erie St.). Guests enjoy complimentary appetizers and an open bar with a $40 advance admission fee ($50 at the door), from which 100 percent is donated to Partners in Health, a charity that has been working on the ground for more than 20 years.

"As soon as I heard of the tragedy in Haiti, I felt compelled to my lend support. I was already planning Erie-LaSalle's 75th anniversary party, so it seemed like a great opportunity to tie the two together," says Erie-LaSalle Body Shop's owner Bob Gottfred. "Partners in Health is a natural fit for me because they have been established in Haiti for two decades. As a longtime business owner myself, I know the importance of going to someone you can trust."

Erie-LaSalle has been repairing and servicing vehicles at its Erie and LaSalle Street location since 1934, establishing itself as Chicago's premier auto repair shop.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to the event early by visiting www.erielasalle.com/haiti, although admission can be paid at the door for an additional $10. Admission includes an open bar with beer, wine and cocktails including four specialty martinis like the Erie-LaSalle Body ShopTini and Strawberry Basil Martini. Passed appetizers are provided during the event. Guests have an opportunity to win raffle prizes, and Martini Park's signature live band plays throughout the night.

Partners in Health (PIH) has been established in Haiti for more than 20 years. In addition to their efforts in Haiti, PIH works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in eight other countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in communities and to share lessons learned around the world. To learn more visit http://www.standwithhaiti.com/.

About Martini Park
Martini Park, Chicago’s “Playground for Grownups”, debuted in Chicago in July 2007 at 151 W. Erie St. in River North. This unprecedented upscale lounge concept features a variety of live music every night, highly-acclaimed signature martinis and cocktails, as well as sharable plates of delectable food items, all within an atmosphere of world-class design. Specialty offerings include the Cucumber Martini, Strawberry Basil Martini, Apple-tini, Smoked Salmon Poppers and Kobe Beef Sliders. Martini Park’s team of seasoned professionals serves each guest with impeccable attention to detail, providing the highest standards in hospitality and service. Martini Park is open Monday – Friday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Erie-LaSalle Body Shop is located at 146 W. Erie St. in Chicago. Valet parking is available. All proceeds from the 75th anniversary charity event go directly to Partners in Health. For more information about "A Night in Support of Haiti," please call (312) 337-3903 or visit www.erielasalle.com/haiti.

Save the Date: A Night in Support of Haiti

Save the date! In honor of its 75th anniversary, Erie-LaSalle Body Shop is hosting a charity event "A Night in Support of Haiti" from 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26 at Martini Park (151 W. Erie St.) Guests enjoy complimentary appetizers and an open bar with a $40 advance admission fee ($50 at the door), from which 100 percent is donated to Partners in Health, a charity that has been working on the ground for more than 20 years.

Admission includes an open bar with beer, wine and four specialty cocktails, like the Erie-Salle Body ShopTini and Strawberry Basil Martini. Passed appetizers and a buffet are also included.

Erie-LaSalle has been repairing and servicing vehicles at its Erie and LaSalle Street location since 1934, establishing itself as Chicago's premier auto repair shop.

Partners in Health (PIH) has been established in Haiti for more than 20 years. In addition to their efforts in Haiti, PIH works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in eight other countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in communities and to share lessons learned around the world. To learn more, visit www.standwithhaiti.com.

Erie-LaSalle Body Shop is located at 146 W. Erie St. in Chicago. For more information about "A Night in Support of Haiti," please call (312) 337-3903. And don't forget to mark the date in your calendar!

Image: Partners in Health

Erie-LaSalle Body Shop celebrates 75 years as Chicago's premier car collision repair shop

As owner Bob Gottfred leads a tour of the basement at Erie-LaSalle Body Shop, he reveals a wall that survived the Great Chicago Fire. You can still see some black charring on the basement ceiling beams. "You know, the basement used to be the first floor. When they rebuilt after the fire, the city was one level higher." It's just one more reminder that in Chicago, a business celebrating its 75th anniversary is as meaningful as it is rare.

Erie-LaSalle Body Shop (146 W. Erie, Chicago, IL; 312-337-3903) is a Chicago institution for many reasons. Originally a blacksmith shop, it was transformed into a car repair shop by Gottfred's stepfather, Ivan Goodmonson, in 1934. In 1976, when Goodmonson retired, he asked his stepson to take over the business. With a degree in finance from Arizona State University and a background in the restaurant industry, Gottfred took over and has run the body shop with an executive's eye. Over the past several years his two grown sons, Jim and Jay, have joined him in running the business and their responsibilities have increased as they've gained experience.

As it has done for 75 years, Erie-LaSalle continues to offer top-quality service to customers from all over the Chicago metro area. The shop boasts a team of 25 professional technicians, many of whom have been on board for decades-a testament to their skill and experience as much as to the profoundly decent way Gottfred treats them. They're a team that has succeeded for so long because they've mastered the fundamentals of good business: they're honest, prompt, courteous and deliver a high quality of service.

Gottfred describes their mission: "We take a negative event-a car collision-and give our customers a pleasant, straightforward experience that minimizes the disruption in their lives. We pick up the damaged car and arrange for a car rental. We repair the car, constantly keeping our customer updated as to the status. Finally, we deliver the car to the customer when it's ready. It can't get any easier than that."

A tour of the body shop also reveals how professional and intricate collision repair has become. Erie-LaSalle employees are clearly a team of professionals trained to use complex equipment and technology. They must know, in detail, how a wide range of cars are manufactured so they can repair them to factory specifications. "There are changes every day in this business," says Jay Gottfred. "Vehicles get more complicated; technology is added; new metals are substituted; different paints are used. Our profession is as much a science as it is an art."

It has also become a complex business involving many people-customers, insurance companies, parts suppliers. Insurance companies are a major source of referral business. "Since we want to be part of their network, we must adhere to their pricing guidelines. We also work very hard to maintain our excellent professional reputation. Great service, promptness and competitive pricing are important keys to our success."

Most car owners don't pay much attention to what goes on behind the scenes in collision repair, so they don't necessarily understand how much attention Erie-LaSalle pays to professionalism and efficiency. "Technical training is a must if we are to repair cars quickly and correctly," says Jim Gottfred. "Speed is crucial. We have customers who operate their business from their car and so we must get them up and running as soon as possible."

For Erie-LaSalle, training is a way of life. The shop regularly hosts evening classes offered by two of the pre-eminent automotive training organizations: I-CAR (the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair) and ASA (the Automotive Service Association). The classes are led by certified instructors and are attended by both Erie-LaSalle technicians and professionals from other collision repair shops and insurance companies. "Hosting the classes reinforces our commitment to having a highly skilled team and an efficiently-run business," says Bob Gottfred. "It's not only a good way to network, but it's a convenient way for our professionals to stay current in their knowledge and skills." Our customers are really the beneficiaries of our training."

I-CAR was founded in 1979 and provides an ever-changing curriculum for collision repair professionals. Erie-LaSalle has earned the I-CAR Gold Class Professional designation, the highest accreditation for a collision repair shop. The entire Erie-LaSalle team of repair professionals has earned the Platinum Individual designation, the highest level for individuals.

With a company history spanning 75 years, there are just too many stories and memories to pick a single most memorable one. Gottfred likes to talk about a recent project to totally re-paint a Land Rover SUV. "It was quite an interesting test of our abilities. An owner of a new Land Rover contacted us to see if we would totally repaint the black SUV, transforming the color to a one-of a kind matte satin black. We agreed to take on the challenge and soon we were drop-shipped a crate of aftermarket parts from England."

Erie-LaSalle installed side rocker pieces, a wing in back and new bumpers. They ordered and applied a special paint, working closely with DuPont. "The project was fun and turned out amazing," says Gottfred. "When we were done, we parked the Land Rover in front of Martini Park (a lounge across the street). The people went wild."

Erie-LaSalle has seen more than a few cars of the rich and famous come through its doors. Probably the first true celeb was Ralph Capone, Al's brother. The roster of big names goes on and on: former Today Show host Dave Garroway, Cubs luminary Ernie Banks, news anchor Ron Majors, former Bears quarterback Vince Evans and NBA star Antwon Walker.

What are the most difficult cars to repair? Limousines, says Gottfred. "Parts are hard to come by and you have to use your imagination to construct stretch panels and door panels."

The 75th anniversary is an exciting yet humbling milestone for Erie LaSalle. "We all feel very lucky and very fortunate. Personally, I pinch myself everyday. To live in wonderful River North, working with my sons and my longtime team members is like a dream come true." Gottfred's enthusiasm for his business is matched by his friendly demeanor and gift of gab. He has been keenly involved in the well-being of his community, as demonstrated by his years of service on the executive board of the River North Business Association.

The future holds interesting possibilities. Erie-LaSalle is looking to expand if the right deal comes along. Jim and Jay are taking on greater responsibilities, and they recognize the opportunities and challenges in front of them. "It's a never ending process, looking for better ways to do things, becoming faster without diminishing the quality of our service," says Bob Gottfred. "It's a challenging, competitive business and we're glad to be among the survivors."

But the word "survivor" would be an understatement-Erie-LaSalle is one of Chicago's great small-business success stories. It easily serves as a role model, showing aspiring entrepreneurs the right way to build a business and keep it thriving for years and years.

To learn more about Erie-LaSalle Body Shop, please visit www.erielasalle.com.

River North Business Association Announces "River North's Best" Awards Winners

Mark Kelly, president of the River North Business Association RNBA), is proud to announce the winners of the associations 2009 “River North’s Best” awards. Each year, the River North Business Association recognizes businesses and services in the area that have had positive impacts on the River North community and participates as members in good standing of the Association. “With close to 400 members, the RNBA finds this a difficult task. We have so many great businesses here. A few years ago, we opened the voting to the public. We feel strongly that our winners represent the “best of” River North,” said Kelly at the groups annual meeting “Spring Fling” held yesterday at the Embassy Suites Hotel on State St.

Taking first place for “Best Business or Service Award” was Point B Communications (750 N Orleans St., 312-867-7750), a creative and strategic agency specializing in advertising, branding and marketing services for more than 30 years, in River North for the past six. Accepting the award being presented by RNBA board member Bob Gottfred was Rob Grusin, president of Point B Communications.

RNBA board treasurer David Kover presented the River North “Best Entertainment or Hospitality Venue Award” to The James Hotel (55 E. Ontario St., 312-337-1000). The James, which opened three years ago in River North, was recognized for its contribution to tourism and to bringing business, specifically to River North. “Offering a stylish and engaging alternative for contemporary business or leisure travel, The James exemplifies responsibility, community and partnership,” said Kover. Accepting the award on behalf of The James was its direct of sales Vicki Poplin.

River North’s “Best Green Business Award” went to Greenheart (746 N. LaSalle Dr., 312-264-1625), Chicago’s only nonprofit eco friendly and fair trade retail store. In his presentation, RNBA vice president Mayo C. Walcott said “Greenheart is a unique business in an ever growing important market segment. The store is fair to producers and good to the earth through its support of local, social enterprises and global fair trade partnerships.” Accepting the award was Claudia Curran, special projects director for Greenheart. In her acceptance, Curran was quick to point out the Greenheart offers complimentary meeting space for up to 30 people, inviting everyone to stop by.

Theory (9 W. Hubbard St., 312-644-0004) received the 2009 River North’s “Best New Restaurant Award,” as the city’s best new hot spot, presented by RNBA board member Bob Zimmerman. Bob commented “as a certified foodie, I enjoy the many great culinary delights that can be found in River North. Each year, all of us get to enjoy new ways to celebrate life with a good meal. Theory strives to be your home away from home, serving upscale yet casual American comfort food with Mexican and Southern BBQ influences, all with exemplary great flavors and soul. Theory is a cozy, upscale sports lounge with an emphasis on good food, and great service. Executive Chef/partner Brian Merel accepted the award on behalf of Theory.

RNBA board secretary, Cindy Kurman, presented the “Best Restaurant for 2009 Award” to Ai Japanese (358 W. Ontario, 312-335-9888). “Food, service and ambiance are just three of the criteria we looked for in selecting the Best Restaurant this year. It’s tough in an area that has so many good restaurants but Ai Japanese was a clear standout. Their unique menu of both sushi and traditional Japanese dishes with modern interpretations and their willingness to support the neighborhood and the association, gave Ai the winning advantage,” said Kurman. Accepting the award was Ai president Agnes Yoshikawa Chua.

The final award category for “Best Retailer, Showroom or Gallery Award,” was presented by RNBA vice president Art Bryan. “While the nominees in this category are as different as day and night, they exemplify the diversity of our River North neighborhood,” said Bryan. “The winner, Argo Tea, (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 312-553-1550) , is a growing Chicago company that brings natural and tasty signature drinks to all of those looking for a healthy beverage alternative and lifestyle experience. The group recognized Argo Tea for its sustainable initiatives, working with the best local and global artisans and for their contribution to the River North community. Accepting the award for Argo Tea was Annie Gibson, general manager of the Merchandise Mart location.

Presenting sponsors of the awards and annual meeting were North Bank and the Merchandise Mart. Gold sponsor was Erie-LaSalle Body Shop & Car Care Center. Food was provided by Zocalo, Theory, and Kitsch’n River North restaurants. Square One Productions provided audio visual support and Embassy Suites Hotel provided the location. Auction prizes were provided by So-Well Dental, Aniko Salon and Spa, Harry Caray’s Restaurant Group, Kitsch’n River North, Embassy Suites Chicago, and The Redhead Piano Bar.

Goody bags distributed to all attendees included hundreds of dollars worth of goods and services including: gift certificates from Erie-LaSalle Body Shop & Car Care Center, Scoozi, Theory, La Madia, Kitsch’n River North, Buca di Beppo, Ai Japanese, Embassy Suites Hotel, Artropolis, Fireplaces Plus, Cityscape Bar, and Kurman Communications. Other goodies included persimmon white tea from Argo Tea, VIA Starbucks coffee in an instant, and a variety of pens and premiums from North Bank, The Redhead Piano Bar, Erie-LaSalle, David M. Kover, CPF, and Park National Bank.