History

A Glimpse At Batavia Enterprises, Inc., Past To Present

History

Inspired by the “can-do” entrepreneurial spark that carried the USA through World War II, Larry Dempsey founded Batavia Enterprises, Inc.(BEI) in 1959. As Larry became familiar with the community while running Dunbar Kapple facilities in Batavia and Geneva, he became interested in investing in real estate.

He began with purchasing the 105,000 square foot former US Wind Engine and Pump Company facilities, the epicenter of US wind energy development.

These properties served as a government owned munitions manufacturing plant during WWII and through the mid-1950s, the partial industrial, partial office layout of the building was perfect for Larry’s first venture into creating a multi-tenant, mixed-use property.

Drive To Serve Our Customers’ Needs

While the building was the first step for Batavia Enterprises, the most important step was, and always will be, the drive to serve our customers’ needs.

additional opportunities in the mid-1970s

Batavia Enterprises has diversified its portfolio over the years. Larry began looking for additional opportunities in the mid-1970s and purchased the former Dukane building on Route 64 in St. Charles. This historic Dukane building, formerly the Operadio Manufacturing and Globe Music Co. making banjos and radios, is now a multi-tenant office and industrial building referred to as the Cedar Avenue Business Center with distinctive suites for professionals reflecting the character of the buildings creative origins. Larry’s next purchase was a new industrial facility in West Chicago that faces the DuPage County Airport. Today, this building is home to several of our long-standing customers. With each addition to the portfolio, we strive to work with business owners in each category of the market (industrial, commercial, retail, and residential) to fulfill their real estate needs so they can focus on their business.

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Years Of Combined Experience

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Licensed Real Estate Brokers In House

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Square Feet Of Managed Property

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Transactions Completed In 2020

share in his vision

Vision

Wanting to share in his vision after he doubled the size of BEI’s portfolio, Larry encouraged his son Gerry to consider relocating to the Fox Valley. In 1979, after a 13 year career in managing and marketing enclosed regional shopping centers across Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois, Gerry relocated back to the Fox Valley and accepted a position as vice president within the family firm. Gerry was immediately faced with the challenge of building a staff, creating leasing and maintenance systems and dealing with an aging portfolio of industrial properties. The two worked together on managing the portfolio to meet the needs and emerging opportunities in the Fox Valley.

focused on both marketing and operational elements

Prior to his death in 1988, Larry Dempsey hired a certified property manager who would soon become an integral member of the company and BEI Family, Dan Stellato, and Gerry became president of Batavia Enterprises. While Dan began his career with the company as property manager, over the next 25 years he grew to become Gerry’s right-hand man, beloved alderman of St. Charles and the next President of Batavia Enterprises Inc. Throughout Dan’s career with BEI, he focused on both marketing and operational elements of the business and assisted Gerry on all major projects and purchases. Together, Gerry and Dan worked on the design and development of such major accomplishments as the American Cancer Society buildout, the conversion of a Jewel grocery store into a Walgreens, the rehabilitation of the Lincoln Atrium Business Center (formerly a Batavia church) and many more projects throughout the Fox Valley area. The team also converted an 1878 Victorian home, currently called the Newton House, to an office building while retaining all of its historical charm

Third Generation Family Business

After 7 Years working in Commercial Real Estate for Heritage Property Investment Trust based out of Northbrook IL as the Asset Manager for Chicago and Michigan markets Austin Dempsey decided to leave the city and plant roots in Batavia. Taking on the role of Vice President in 2007 while learning from his father, Austin oversaw the leasing and operations of the company. In January of 2019 Austin was ready to take on the role as CEO of Batavia Enterprises Inc. when Gerry stepped into a Chairman of the board position. Austin Dempsey is proud to be a third-generation real estate business committed to bringing customer focused commercial, residential and property management services the Fox Valley.

Austin’s entrepreneurial mentality has brought opportunities for Batavia Enterprises Inc. to grow and expand services from property management to full service commercial real estate, acquiring a boutique residential real estate company, Miscella Real Estate, and repurposing an owned property to provide self-storage to St. Charles with In Towne Self-Storage.

History

History

A Glimpse At Batavia Enterprises, Inc., Past To Present

History

Drive To Serve Our Customers’ Needs

additional opportunities in the mid-1970s

Years Of Combined Experience

Licensed Real Estate Brokers In House

Square Feet Of Managed Property

Transactions Completed In 2020

share in his vision

Vision

focused on both marketing and operational elements

Third Generation Family Business

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