Continuous growth
One great success followed another, and in 1964, Michael Lewis Company moved to a new 40,000-square-foot, build-to-suit facility in Melrose Park, Illinois.
In memoriamWhile the new location was well-suited for business, it was not accessible by public transportation, and a young shipping clerk named Louise could no longer get to work via bus. Louise feared she would lose her job. But instead, Leonard Simon enrolled this valued employee in driving school and helped her buy a car. The shipping department never missed a beat, and Louise went on to serve the company with devotion for more than 60 years. Sadly, she passed away in 2010. She will be forever missed by the Michael Lewis family and appreciated for the lasting impression she left on the company.
Taking to the skies: entering the world of airline logistics
Later in 1964, Leonard Simon’s wife, Ruth, was answering the phone in Customer Service when she received a request for custom-molded liquor stir sticks from the food service director at Ozark Airlines. That inquiry led to Michael Lewis Company’s expansion into the local service airline industry, including business with North Central Airlines, Allegheny Airlines and Piedmont Airlines.