Joseph Ukonga
Faith. Though faith is most often used to describe people of great spirituality, faith also describes a businessperson who takes great personal risk to pursue a dream. Pursuing such a dream requires capital, willingness to accept risk, and FAITH that the idea will work. A person who has done just that is Joseph Ukonga. ­ a man, we learned midway through this interview, who comes from a background entirely unknown to those of us raised and living in the United States.

Tell me about your business, DCI Stores, and how did you get into it?
I got into furniture business because I was always interested in home decoration and I was also interested in looking at designs in the industry that would reflect who we are and how to express ourselves within our homes.

Do you have any background in this industry?
To make a living, one has to have an idea of how to give people a value. So we must have passion in our field of expertise in order to sustain our business - whether it be one day or five years.

How did you choose your location on Glenwood just north of Morse ­ 6954 - 60 N. Glenwood?
I lived in Rogers Park for 25 years and I have always been interested in this location because for many years I have seen this particular spot deteriorating ­ looking like an abandoned and uncared for property. There were always small businesses: a Chinese restaurant, store front church and also some form of a thrift store. I saw the space and I had a vision of renting one of the units, since it was actually five stores. When I rented one spot, I realized it wasn’t big enough for what I wanted to do. As FAITH would have it, all other stores were leaving, so I was able to get a lease for all five spaces and convert it into one large storefront.

What kind of renovation did you have to do?
I did everything from electrical, plumbing, taking down walls ­ in short, I gutted it down to the brick, removing six layers of drywall accumulated since the building first opened in 1918, and I removed five layers of flooring to the foundation. We installed new ceramic floors, plumbing, did the entire electrical and all. So now the space has the look and feel of an open loft with exposed brick. I’m very proud of it.

That’s quite impressive that you would put forth this kind of time and effort as a tenant
Yes. The ends justify the means, I guess. We want to better the neighborhood (as well as my family), and this kind of commitment helps change the image around Morse Avenue.

How has it worked?
We bring a lot of traffic onto Morse. These are folks who normally wouldn’t come this way. People heading to northbound suburbs often depart the train to check us out. They feel comfortable doing so. The exposed design scope with lights in front and high windows expose DCI Store to the El makes people take notice.

What do you sell at DCI Store?
We primarily sell contemporary and classic designer furniture and home accessories for less. Our prices are far better than what people might find at places like Penny’s, Macy’s or even Domicile. We have affordable delivery prices and the quality of our merchandise is first rate. We have many resources and we can find what people need through our catalogues.

Where are you from?
I’m from Japan. (Joseph’s smile turns into outright laughter. Sounds like a Nigerian to me!). I grew up in a small village in southern Nigeria called Igara. I had a very big family with many brothers, half brothers and sisters. My father had ten wives and he was a local chief priest. He was an African traditional chief ­ he wore a big robe, a big African traditional outfit and he performed cultural engagements for the local tribe members. He presided over wedding ceremonies, child births, and festivals honoring special gods representing different libations. His job was to be sure all our gods were honored.

Ten wives?
When my father died, he had 10 wives and 50 children. (My grandfather outdid my father ­ he had 50 wives and 150 children. His name was Ogazi ­ Ogazi the Great!

I understand that you have a special memory from when you obtained your first pair of shoes.
When I was growing up life in Igara was impoverished. We lived in squalor ­ in real abject poverty. Within this poverty situation, we were happy children because we didn’t know better. I would go about my business, playing, eating making trouble. On my 15th birthday, my father gave me my first pair of shoes which I loved very much. It was pair of leather shoes called Bata, made by an English company. He had worn them himself for ten years and I felt honored because I had 20 or 30 older siblings ahead of me all who could have gotten them.

How long did you live there?
I left Nigeria when I was 20 so I could come to America and check out what this country is all about. I learned on television and in books about American. I met an American woman, married her and we have three children, two boys and a daughter. I suppose my grandfather wouldn’t be happy with me that I only have one wife and three children. He would call me a chump! (Joseph laughs) In reality, he would slap me.

He would slap you?
In Nigeria physical contact ­ corporal punishment - like a slap would be acceptable. It would not be considered child endangerment ­ rather, an acceptable form of punishment. They try to instill personality traits like honesty, hard work, believing ones self (and destiny), and very important, loyalty. Loyalty is very important. It meant everything to my father and grandfather.

How about you, with your son?
I find America to be a different ballgame. Kids are exposed to media and they have every reason why not to learn, and to be distracted from what’s going on in the world. My son is not interested that in the other hemisphere people are dying from things that we take for granted. We drink from our water bottles; there, people drink from the rivers, streams and ponds and catch infectious diseases. My son couldn’t appreciate the wonders: education ­ when I went to school, I had to walk twelve miles to school every single day. And, you could NOT be late. It makes you stronger and healthier even though at the time we hated it. For me, it gave me a source of inspiration and continuity to see how I can one day make things better.

Are you pleased with life in America?
Yes. I am very pleased because I think that compared to other parts of the world and where I am from, America is the place where you can dream and your dream can come true. This place allows me to have FAITH.

To meet Joseph, and to buy some top quality furniture, visit him at DCI Stores, or visit www.dcistores.com. Store hours: 10:00 AM ­ 8:00PM. 773 /465-7990