Today we’d like to introduce you to Larry Klairmont and Robert Olson.
Larry Klairmont is a WWII veteran and Marine. His early life began growing up in Maywood Illinois raised with the help of his grandmother. Larry boasts that his grandmother was a creative cook. Because of the Great Depression, they were sometimes forced to eat potatoes weeks on end. His grandmother boiled them, baked them, and fried them. Those memories are vividly fond. Subsequent to that, Larry’s mother married a gentleman. He thereby moved to Chicago with his mother. When he was 14 years old, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and that event lit a fire within him. He was angered for what had happened and how the Japanese did it. Wanting to be a fighter pilot, he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 16. At the time, the military was training the college graduates before the other enlisted. Although Larry previously was accepted in the V-5 program, he was not happy with his interim clerical assignment, Larry was not satisfied. He went to his Commanding Officer and said “I want to fight…I want to be a warrior!” His request was granted and he was transferred to the United States Marine Core. The next day he was on the way to Sai Pan. Larry, at the age of 17, was made a platoon leader with 28 other men under his leadership. His effort caused him to be wounded twice receiving two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. Larry did what had to be done and moved forward.
Upon returning home, Larry met his beautiful wife and eventually had 5 wonderful children. Wanting to start his own business, Larry was feeling the need to support a family on more than what a salary could offer. Mr. Klairmont decided to go into business, the Dry Cleaning Business. He started off building his first location himself. Mr. Klairmont went to the lumber yard, assembling shelves, utilizing used pipe, and building racks.
His hard work paid off, as his business grew to over 110 locations and 10 wholesale routes. A successful business came at a cost and Larry often worked all day on 4 hours of sleep. A success in everything he set out to do, Larry decided to sell his business and move on. That decision moved Larry in another direction. Out for the day with his wife, Larry spotted a building in Highland Park and on the drop of a dime decided to buy it. The next day he made up his mind to buy the building located on the best corner in Highland Park. It was a winner and within 24 months, the building paid itself off. Larry realized it was a damn good business and he started buying other buildings, successfully building up and growing his family’s very successful business Imperial Realty. That success allowed him to pursue his lifelong love of automobiles.
His first car upon leaving the Marines was a 1935 Plymouth that he paid $50 and it would not travel at over 35 mph Larry has since pursued that passion collecting cars and vehicles from as early as the 1890’s to current cars. After the passing of Larry’s wife, he met Joyce Oberlander, a widower herself. Larry shared his interest in cars and Joyce quickly became an avid and learned auto enthusiast. She suggested to Larry that he organize and share his ever growing collection of cars. Together they created Klairmont Kollections.
Klairmont Kollections is Larry’s personal collection of classic, antique, and modern day cars. It is housed within a 100,000 square foot building that has over 300 autos and other eclectic collectibles. There are vintage posters, numerous neon signs, themed rooms, and much more. That coordination of such a feat came together additionally with the help of Ben Lockwood, the curator of Klairmont. Ben has accompanied Larry at numerous auctions and helped acquire and stage both the collectible cars and other rare items within the collection. Ben is a wealth of knowledge and intimately knows the individual pieces and their history.
Larry’s passion has come together in a one of a kind place, Klairmont Kollections. Offering the facility to help raise money for charities and host unique corporate events has caused Larry and Joyce to cross many paths and meet many people. It was at a charity event Last July that they met Robert Olson. Robert, himself a car enthusiast, volunteered to help out with a children’s charity event. After the conclusion of that successful event and much pleasant conversation, Robert joined the Klairmont team as the Director of Special Events. He too recognized the unique and special place Klairmont Kollections is and that it was a hidden Chicago Treasure that needed to be shared with others. Robert 46, had only one reservation, he was not sure if he could keep up with Larry 89. But Robert threw caution to the wind and jumped on board, full steam ahead! He and his associate Larry Sassarossi take pride in scheduling corporate, private, and charitable events on behalf of Klairmont Kollections. The Klairmont crew most recently celebrated Larry Klairmont’s 90th birthday.
Larry’s passion for cars had him owning more than 600
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Klairmont Kollections, I believe is the biggest collection of its kind in the Midwest. It is a personal collection of cars and other collectibles that is housed in an equally beautiful facility. We host charity events, corporate events, private parties, and all sorts of tours. The vehicles are eye popping yet there is so much more. Each vehicle has its’ own story and tells a tale. It connects us with who we are today and who we as people were yesterday. As the world changed, so did our automobiles.
We are a phenomenal place to have an event away from the beaten path. The canvas of the pristine vehicles offers so much too so many. Photographers, historians, automotive collectors, and anyone out for an amazing experience will appreciate Klairmont Kollections. It is the perfect place to take your dad, girlfriend, business associate, entire family, or whomever.
It is memorable.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I recommend putting Klairmont Kollections on your bucket list of must see and must dos in Chicago. Hands down!
Contact Info:
- Address: 3111 N. Knox is the location.
Chicago IL. 60641
Free Parking - Website: www.klairmontkollections.com
- Phone: 7736851904
- Email: robert@klairmontkollections.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klairmontkollections/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/klairmont-kollections-chicago
- Other: Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1avUHYTb_ZxvGHaaLiCGFw
Image Credit:
Robert Olson of Klairmont Kollections Gallery images
ZBIGNIEW BZDAK/CHICAGO TRIBUNE/TNS photo of Larry Klairmont
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