Even after he finished up his service with the Navy last year, Robert Reichardt helped to start up a business that is helping him incorporate his values while providing a service.
He’s now got a junk removal gig he operates with his brother, Steven Frasher, in which they help people get rid of unwanted items while salvaging and donating some. They recently hired a third employee, Trevor Ford-Ralston.
Chicago Ridge-based JDog Junk Removal and Hauling deals with things owners cannot, especially heavy items like a love seat they donated to a local VFW or a gun safe that weighed roughly 400 pounds. Other items — about 35% — are relegated to a dump or scrapyard.
The two are running their business out of Reichardt’s home, though looking for warehouse space in Oak Lawn, and since they started they’ve donated an electric scooter to an Army veteran, bedroom sets to families in need and full truckloads of household goods to charitable organizations including Pass it On Thrift Center in Crestwood and Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Oak Forest.
Reichardt, who grew up with his brother in the Gage Park neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, said one of the perks of the job is getting to know the customers.
“I tell people all the time, we’re not trying to get rich, we’re just trying to feed our families,” he said.
He and is brother were looking for a business venture and heard about JDog Brands, founded by Army veteran Jerry Flanagan, which offered affordable franchises to other veterans. Flanagan was in communications and earned the nickname “wire dog,” which later became JDog for his company, Richards said.
Reichardt was in the Navy from 2001 to 2022 and served seven deployments, including when hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in 2017. That meant linking up with the National Guard and going to hospitals to get generators running and making sure survivors got food and shelter.
“You don’t do something for 20 years without walking away with some very fond memories,” Reichardt said.
Buying into the JDog franchise came with some tools, including weeklong training and marketing tips.
He did do a brief corporate fellowship after the Navy, but prefers helping his community.
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The two brothers also support causes such as the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, by doing fundraising.
The business opened in November, and Marisa Foster, of Beverly, has already used their services multiple times. She runs a handyman service and her junk removal included clearing out the home of a relative who had downsized and removing junk from a space she leased.
“Getting rid of stuff, it’s emotional and depending on the situation, you want to know it’s going somewhere and not just a scrap heap,” said Foster, adding they were meticulous and careful in their cleanup.
Foster found out about the business after meeting Reichardt at a networking event and was already sold on it.
“His energy … it was almost like I didn’t care what he did, I wanted to get his business card from his persona,” Foster said.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.