4A — February 2025 — Family Owned Businesses — M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal
www.marej.com
F amily O wned B usinesses Decades of a client-first approach have shaped Blau & Berg’s expertise in NJ’s industrial real estate market Family-Run & Results-Driven: The Blau & Berg Company’s Legacy
K
en Crimmins em- barked on his jour- ney in real estate
that has become synonymous with Northern New Jersey real estate. Since assum-
of 40 brokers, with its essence firmly rooted in family. Ken’s son, Jason Crimmins, serves as the president; Sheryl Crimmins oversees the firm’s finances as controller; Laura Crimmins holds the position of executive director; Van- essa Crimmins specializes in accounting; and Whitney Driver-Crimmins leads the marketing department. The Blau & Berg Company has carved out a significant niche within New Jersey’s challenging industrial sector, particularly in port-centric locales such as Newark,
Elizabeth, Jersey City, Se- caucus, and their neighbor- ing communities. The surg- ing demand for warehouse and distribution space in re- cent years—especially in the wake of the pandemic—has led to a remarkable increase in rents and property values in areas once considered less desirable, now recognized as critical hubs for both New Jersey and the national sup- ply chain. Ken Crimmins attributes this growth to the region’s substantial popu- lation and consumer base, coupled with a scarcity of
available land. Despite its boutique stat- ure, Blau & Berg proudly boasts eight individual bro- kers who hold the esteemed SIOR designation, a testa- ment to their membership in the Society of Office & In - dustrial Realtors, a vital net- working organization. Jason Crimmins, who manages the firm’s daily operations, firmly believes in the importance of foundational principles. “Our business thrives on relation- ships,” he asserts. “We are fortunate to have established a strong, long-standing repu- tation in the New Jersey and tri-state markets, but we do not take that for granted. Years of diligent effort have been invested in building connections with clients who have very specific needs and expectations. Blau & Berg is recognized as a firm that delivers results, and we take great pride in that.” Looking ahead to 2025, Crimmins is optimistic about the future. The pandemic of 2020 ignited a transforma - tive surge in the northeast corridor’s last-mile logistics sector, propelling the indus- trial market to the forefront of commercial real estate. After a multi-year period of adjustment, he notes a sta- bilization in occupancy rates over the past few quarters as a promising sign of what lies ahead. “With post-election fiscal clarity, our firm is wit - nessing a tangible uptick in interest, particularly from larger operators re-entering the 100,000 s/f and above market. The value of land has surged, especially for Industrial Outside Storage (IOS), and we are genuinely excited about the favorable near-term outlook.” Crimmins highlights three properties currently on the market that have garnered significant interest. “525 West Linden Ave in Linden, offering 118,259 s/fon 9.2 acres with 5 acres of trailer parking, is a Bridge Indus- trial property; the nearly 300,000 s/f Elizabeth Met- ropolitan Logistics Center, a brand-new Brookfield Property; and the expansive Supor Industrial Facility in Harrison, encompassing nearly 37 acres and approxi- mately 650,000 s/f, have all attracted robust interest in recent months.” MAREJ
almost ser- endipitous- ly. When he accepted a position with The Blau & Berg Compa- ny, primar- ily to identi- fy properties
ing the role of principal in 1990, Crimmins has adeptly navigated the chal- lenges of an intensely competitive
Ken Crimmins
Jason Crimmins
for his father’s construction enterprise, he could scarcely have imagined that, over five decades later, he would have cultivated a family-run firm
market, steering the Short Hills-based firm toward consistent year-over-year growth. Today, Blau & Berg is home to a dedicated team
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