American Dream to American Nightmare

Bob Schultz’s American Dream is turning into an American Nightmare.

Bob’s father, Art, got into the plating business with his father, Charles, founding Schultz’s Plating after returning from the World War II in 1947. With little experience in the business, they decided to take a leap and embark on a journey to success that the Land of Promise offers.

In 1962, Art bought a floundering but well known plating company on Chicago’s North Avenue called American Nickel Works and moved all operations there. Art brought his son Bob into the family business in his teen years during summer breaks, and in 1971 Bob started full time at the age of 24 after serving in the Navy on the USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War. The father and son built the business together, working seven days a week, from 3:00 am to 3:00 pm. The work was grueling, with early morning starts necessitated by the soaring temperatures of a Chicago summer.

Bob Schultz and his father Art

The family in 1983 moved American Nickel Works to a new location in Chicago’s West Loop, a depressed neighborhood at the time. They continued their tireless work and
saw their business and employees start to thrive. Employees were given full health care for themselves and their family. As the business grew, Bob’s wife, Carol, joined the team, where being a wastewater operator, polisher, and running the office were part of her daily responsibilities. Bob and Carol raised two children, Bob Jr. and Lisa. Bob Jr, like his father, worked summers, earning his stripes and continuing his legacy. He would eventually follow in his fathers footsteps, partnering with him from 1995 on.

Foreman of 42 years Julián Dingle with Bob Jr. and Bob

Bob and Carol Schultz receiving an award from a customer

In 2017, it was time for Bob and Carol to semi-retire to their dream home. Now in their 70’s, they spent quiet days in the desert sunshine enjoying the fruits of their life long labor. They stayed active with the company, doing all the paperwork daily for the business.

On February 21st, 2019, the day after Bob’s 72nd birthday, tragedy struck. Bob Jr arrived to find the factory engulfed in an extra alarm fire. Hundreds of firefighters spent hours battling flames, attacking the fire from the outside due to the intensity of the fire and the chemicals inside the factory. After a long battle the firefighters were able to knock out the flames. Thankfully there were no injuries, nor any damage to other properties in the neighborhood. 

News coverage of the fire 


 Video taken morning of the fire


But, it was a total loss for Bob and the family, and the beginning of a nightmare. Not only the shattered dream, it became an assault on the family’s future. Because of the nature of the business, there was an environmental impact on the land. Water from the firefighting mixed with chemicals used on site and overflowed. The fire damaged holding tanks.  All this raised concern with a myriad of local agencies including the Department of Buildings, the Water Reclamation District, Public Health, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).

A view of part of the building that collapsed during the fire

After countless interviews, claims, and formal procedure, Bob was tasked by the IEPA with the mandated cleanup of the now polluted site. A specialized environmental cleanup company was contracted by the business to complete the work that must be performed to the standards and time table set by the IEPA. Work began immediately, the day after the fire, and the cleanup company was retained even though they could not provide a total cost of the project. Removal of debris during the demolition process inevitably uncovered chemicals and work would halt as samples were taken and analyzed, extending project costs and hours.

The insurance company covering Bob’s business received their claims, but has been silent on any timetable of payment or settlement amount under the claim. This has left Bob to pay for the cleanup out of his retirement savings. He’s cashed out of investments and retirement accounts. The security he had built for his retirement and legacy to be passed on to his children is gone. With no money left to pay for the cleanup that is only halfway done, the IEPA demanding that work continue, and being that there is an environmental concern, jurisdiction will soon be passed from the state level to the Federal EPA. The EPA will bring in their own expensive contracted company, and pass the cost on to Bob. With no money left, seizure of Bobs home is on the horizon.

Now Bob and Carol spend their days slogging through the bureaucracy of the quiet and apathetic insurance company, whom they have dutifully paid throughout the years, pleading for the salvation that is rightfully theirs. They have been weakened by this experience, losing weight and often sick. They are fearful of a future that has seen their dream become a nightmare.

There is a glimmer of hope. We can save Bob. We, who care about our collective dream as a Nation and community and have the compassion to pick up a man in his time of need. Regulation on top of tragedy should not be what destroys Bob and his dream. We can save Bob and know that we have not allowed the faceless crush of government to put a good man in a dire, hopeless situation.

Art’s military burial flag was in the office and survived the fire.

Latest estimates have the total cost of cleanup at another one million dollars. 300,000 dollars is needed to get the environmental cleanup company to start the next phase of the process. Every cent raised will go directly to the cleanup of the site.