Family ties take firm to heart of LIC revival.

When Sandy Zuckerbrot's son, Franklin, joined the family business, it was the proudest day of his life.

The veteran broker had gambled on Long Island City one day blossoming as a business center and, along with partner, Ronald Sholom, set up Sholom & Zuckerbrot in what was then a virtual commercial wasteland.

Sandy recalled haggling with a landlord to squeeze the rent on their run-down, single room office from $100 to $75. "We worked so hard to negotiate the rent to $75 a month, that the owner said he really hoped we'd make it and let us have the office for free for the next six months. Then he put the rent up to $75 a month."

While he admits there were times when the going was tough as he and his partner worked to bring life back to the dead factory sites and empty warehouses that littered the waterfront, Sandy said he always had faith in the Queens neighborhood and, slowly but surely, that faith paid off as the south western corner of the borough began to reemerge as a viable commercial and residential center.

The firm thrived and, eventually, Sholom decided to focus on the company's New Jersey operations and the partnership was dissolved in the mid-80s, although Sandy retained the S&Z name for his business in LIC.

Then, 13-years ago, Franklin joined the firm, bringing with him extensive experience in commercial real estate. He'd launched his own career at the Edward S. Gordon Company, then largest commercial real estate brokerage firm in the city, He rose through the ranks of the brokerage through two buy-outs, first by Insignia Financial Group in 1996 and later by CB Richard Ellis.

"He has brought the Manhattan brokerage state-of-mind to Long Island City," said his father proudly.

Indeed, Franklin brought the new-generation mentality to LIC at a time where businesses in Manhattan neighborhoods such as Soho, Noho and Tribeca were growing out of the mainly loft-like premises available there. Firms such as Sony, Panasonic, UPS, Sunshine Biscuit and Gallo Wines all sought space to expand in Long Island City, where S&Z had been waiting with open arms to welcome new business.

Sandy noted how "outsiders" were finally waking up to the potential of the LIC neighborhood, explaining, "The realized these older industrial buildings were perfect for retail, and there were many older properties that were well located and could be put to better use. The waterfront was also recognized as development site for residential properties, which had thrived in recent years."

S&Z's history with LIC has enabled the firm to play a major role in LIC's redevelopment and the firm's ability to negotiate complex transactions involving the conversion of underutilized real estate to new uses has led to it becoming the go-to commercial real estate brokerage for the area.

As leaders in the assemblage of industrial properties for large-scale retail re-development, the firm has worked with developers such as Philips International and Forest City Rather.

The firm's brokers structured transactions allowing for Home Depot, Stop 'N Shop, Marshalls, Old Navy, Toys R Us and CVS to establish highly profitable inner-city locations.

Over the past 40 years, S&Z has flourished along with LIC, covering the entire New York metro area and expanding its business platform to include office and retail investment sales, and asset and property management divisions. Through its affiliate, Octagon Properties LLC, the firm also owns more than 25 commercial properties throughout the metropolitan area.

Today, the company employs more than 20 professionals who have, on average, been with the firm for more than 15 years. It also added Lawrence Smith, John Ritter and Gail Roseman as partners. "Many real estate companies have high mortality rates with their employees. We don't have that problem because, like a fine sports team, we're used to playing on the same team, and that's why we are happy and successful," said S. Zuckerbrot.

"But it goes beyond growing financially, because we play an important role in assisting people in concluding deals. There are times where you can be near to closing a deal, but there's a missing piece, and we find the missing link," said Sandy.

Most recently, the firm represented Fortune Brands in the sale of the former Swingline Stapler building to an investment group led by Manhattan-based, Stellar Management, and simultaneously arranged for the resale of one of the buildings to The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

S&Z also represented The Feil organization in a 400,000 s/f, long-term lease with the MTA for the former Alexander's warehouse in Hunts Point, Bronx, and when Farberware sold its 500,000 s/f plant on Southern Boulevard in the Bronx to a local developer, S&Z represented them, too.

"I always thought that LIC would get busy, but not to this extent," said Sandy. "The last thing I would have thought to see in LIC was residential developments, but our firm has played a major role in all of these developments taking place.

"LIC has tremendous potential and that has been apparent to me from day one."

Through all Sandy Zuckerbrot's many achievements, and his excitement about future growth, working with his son has been on the top of the list, however.

"One of the most exciting things is having my son as my partner, and working together in a very successful way as a father and son team."