City Zoom ushers in a new era with grand opening ribbon cutting

On Thursday, October 8, the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon at EpicLimo’s community open house, ushering in a new era for the company with the launch of its sister service, City Zoom, and marking a major step toward better connecting NWI with the greater Chicago area.

Brian Sheely, who has been a local leader in the transportation business since 2006, is the owner and president of City Zoom, and he just made getting to the airport from Valparaiso, Portage, and Hammond a whole lot easier. The city of Valpo welcomed City Zoom, the Region’s latest and greatest in safe, affordable, and reliable airport transportation.

Its motto, “Skip the drive, skip the stress, zoom to O’Hare with City Zoom,” aligns perfectly with Sheely’s mission of filling a serious need. 

“People were and are looking for an economical and reliable way to get to the airport, and that’s the void we’re filling,” said Sheely. 

His first venture took to the skies with an aircraft maintenance shop serving General Aviation, where he worked as an engine technician, steadily growing his client list and, more importantly, his reputation.

“I came here 20 years ago and worked out of the trunk of my car. I eventually rented a spot next door for $150 a month and none of the lights worked. No running water or bathroom,” said Sheely. “I kept renting more and more space, and eventually the previous owner said, ‘I think you should buy the building from me.’”

Today, that space has evolved into a fully functional HQ, so close to the action that planes from the flight school zip by overhead. It’s a true control room for planning, organizing, and delivering. An absolute must for the operation.

City Zoom is standing by, ready for all the region’s transportation needs. He works from “the control center,” overseeing national news streams for travel updates, monitoring the live driver map, and likely working up another successful business idea. Sheely has truly made his mark on Valpo while continuing to put down serious roots. 

He was quick to offer reassurance about the team, the fleet, and the company’s commitment to safety.

“All our vehicles are tracked. Acceleration, hard braking, lane changes, so we know if our drivers are not driving safely or appropriately,” said Sheely.

The history is still being written from that very airport hangar in Valparaiso. From technician to transportation, Sheely has given the community a service locals can count on. City Zoom is his latest venture and a seamless extension of EpicLimo, the sister company and luxury car rental service that has served Lake, Porter, La Porte, and Michiana counties for 15 years.

EpicLimo offers a different kind of experience, as Sheely and his team cater to a variety of local needs. At EpicLimo, guests rent entire vehicles for special events like weddings, prom, and birthdays, as well as concerts, sporting events, brewery tours, and wine tastings, taking the hassle of travel out of the equation.

City Zoom, on the other hand, brings the same professional-grade service and experience to airport transportation. Whether you’re traveling solo, coordinating a business trip, or heading to the airport with family and friends, City Zoom and its sister company EpicLimo are at your service.

No matter the occasion, you can count on Sheely’s team for reliable service, courteous drivers, and a comfortable ride, every time.

City Zoom offers comfort and convenience with every ride. Each trip includes essential amenities designed to enhance the travel experience: one checked bag or one carry-on plus one personal item, direct transportation to O’Hare’s departure level, climate-controlled and comfortable vehicles, and real-time trip updates, all starting at a flat rate of $55.

City Zoom runs three daily round-trip shuttles from Valpo, Portage, and Hammond.

“We’re not on-demand like Uber; we’re presold,” said Sheely.

Passengers pay per seat, making travel more economical than a luxury limo or a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van.

The first shuttle departs at 2:10 a.m. for red-eye business travelers, followed by 9:40 a.m. for the casual and timely, and finally 5:10 p.m. for fearless rush-hour travelers.

If travel incidents, delays, or mishaps occur, City Zoom has operators standing by, just a phone call away. Online reservations must be made at least 12 hours before departure, and the company recommends booking at least 48 hours in advance to ensure seating availability.

Sheely said City Zoom was created to meet a growing need for dependable airport transportation in Northwest Indiana, but he recognizes that not everything is in his control.

“Anything that happens in the world, doesn’t matter if it happens in California, it affects our passengers,” he said.

The City Zoom team is proud to serve the community, and the community is welcoming them in with open arms and fully packed baggage. Whether you’re a business traveler, a college student heading home, a family on vacation, or a visitor to the area, City Zoom is committed to providing a stress-free, affordable alternative for getting to the airport. Reliable scheduling. No surge pricing. No surprises. Best of all, locally owned and operated.

To book your next ride with City Zoom, visit flycityzoom.com or call 219-255-2200.