Over a year after a substantial fire demolished its warehouse, Chicago Heights-based manufacturer Morgan Li has announced ambitious plans to rebuild and upgrade its facilities. The company, known for producing retail fixtures and furniture, was hit by a severe setback when its warehouse was engulfed in flames back in February 2023. Now, the recovery is in full swing as the manufacturer aims to construct a larger, more advanced facility on the same grounds, according to reports from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Morgan Li's CEO Andy Rosenband conveyed the company's optimism by saying, "It’s very exciting for us to rebuild after a crazy event." Despite the intense inferno that resulted in thick, black smoke visible for miles, fire crews managed to quell the flames with no injuries reported. However, the cause of the fire still remains unsolved, with Rosenband admitting to the Chicago Sun-Times, "At the end of the day, we still don’t know [what happened]." The ambitious construction plan, set to be ready in January 2025, signals a significant investment by Morgan Li into the local economy and workforce, as well as an enhancement of their production capabilities.
The new facility's footprint is slated to cover 240,000 square feet and is designed to consolidate its manufacturing and warehousing under one roof. This centralization is expected to boost the company's efficiency and diminish its carbon footprint, as the previous setup involved off-site storage for some products. As per Rosenband’s communications with the Chicago Tribune, "Everything was done on site [before], and it was much more efficient.” The development will also feature an environmentally conscious 40,000-square-foot building devoted solely to powder coating – a sustainable painting process utilizing powder instead of traditional liquid paint.
Reconstruction efforts are making tangible progress, with the foundational concrete already poured and wall panels in the fabrication stage. Morgan Li's deep-rooted connection to Chicago Heights, the site the firm purchased last year, is a driving force behind this resurgence. Rosenband shared with the Chicago Sun-Times his commitment to the community, "The city has always been a great partner to us … so we just felt like it’s home." In conjunction with the build, Morgan Li plans to move jobs back to Chicago Heights and foresees the creation of an additional 25 to 35 jobs, ranging from paint line workers to assembly roles.
Though the origin of the calamitous blaze remains unknown, the commitment of Morgan Li to not only rebuild but also improve its facilities has showcased resilience and a forward-thinking mindset. Rosenband summed up the company's fortitude in a statement obtained by the Chicago Tribune, saying, "The takeaway is that as catastrophic as it was, we grew stronger as a team. We feel incredibly lucky in an incredibly unlucky situation."
