Pete Slezak retires after 45 years
The Barry Company thanks Pete Slezak for his years of service
“The Barry Company Day” Celebrated Throughout Milwaukee
Mayor Barrett and County Executive Crowley declare December 20, 2021 “The Barry Company Day”
The Barry Company celebrates its centennial
At a 100th anniversary and holiday party for the Barry Company, a leading southeast Wisconsin commercial real estate company headquartered in downtown Milwaukee, on December 20 at the Milwaukee Club, Mayor Tom Barrett and County Executive David Crowley declared December 20, 2021 to be The Barry Company Day throughout the city of Milwaukee.
The Barry Company president, Jim Barry accepted the proclamations on behalf of the Barry Company. All brokers and staff from the company were present for the evening, including Pete Slezak who announced his retirement after 45 years with the company. In recognition for his years of service, Slezak was gifted a framed photo of a former listing of his up in flames shortly before the deal closed. Slezak sold this and hundreds of other listings throughout his career and kept the photo near his desk as a testament to his abilities as a broker.
Given the Senate’s recent approval of Mayor Barrett’s new position as the ambassador to Luxemburg, this proclamation is one of his last official acts as mayor of Milwaukee. Barrett joked that “You can take this proclamation to any bar in Milwaukee, and if you can convince them to give you something for free, you’re entitled to it.”
11,810 SF Sold in Milwaukee
David Barry brokers commercial sale
14,900 SF Sold in Port Washington
Kevin Barry brokers industrial sale
52 Acres Sold in Franklin
Kevin Barry and David Buckley broker land sale
Jim Barry Named Commercial Real Estate Leader
The BizTimes recognizes Jim Barry
Notable Leaders in Commercial Real Estate
Jim Barry, president and CEO of the Barry Company, has been recognized as a Notable Leader in Commercial Real Estate by the BizTimes for his 30 years in the industry.
Historic Water Street Listing
The Barry Company lists 1241 N. Water St.
Last original Water Street business to sell
A. Werner Silversmiths, the last remaining original business owner on Water Street has enlisted the Barry Company’s services in selling its building at 1241 N. Water St. in Milwaukee. Nick Zurich of the Barry Company will represent A. Werner. The listing features 3,520 sq. ft. of retail space and a parking lot with four spaces. The asking price is $990,000.
“Location is everything with this listing,” says Zurich. “It’s right in the middle of the entertainment district and a block away from the Fiserv Forum. Businesses on this block see a lot of activity.”
A. Werner has occupied Water Street since Austrian immigrant Adolf Werner founded the company back in 1888. His son, Leo started running the business in 1940 until his death in 1954. Douglas Wied, Leo’s apprentice, took over after Leo’s death and later passed the business to his sons. Throughout the years, A. Werner has worked on countless family heirlooms as they were passed down from generation to generation. Jewelers and department stores that used to occupy the 3rd Ward area were another steady stream of revenue. “Milwaukee has changed a lot,” comments Mike Wied, current silversmith and co-owner with his brother, Dennis. “This area used to be nothing but highway overpass. We just stayed here and watched Water Street grow around us.” Mike is looking forward to retiring and moving up north. “The market has been steadily slowing down he says, “It takes a long time to train someone to take over a practice like silver work, so we decided it was time to sell.”
1241 N. Water St.
Quarterly Report October 2021
Quarterly Report October 2021
History Made
This quarter, we are continuing to see historic demand and growth in the commercial real estate market. History in the making has been a theme consistent throughout more than just the market this past quarter. We watched from a block away as the Milwaukee Bucks took home the championship trophy for the first time in almost 50 years, and the victory parade passed right by our office before making its way back to the Fiserv Forum.
A little over a month later, the Barry Company achieved our own historical accolades at the annual awards dinner hosted by the Milwaukee County Historical Society. We received a plaque and were formally recognized for our 100th year in business. Neither the Barry Company nor the city of Milwaukee would be the same without each other’s contributions over the years and receiving this recognition at an event to raise money and further preserve Milwaukee’s history was a fitting culmination.
In addition to our recognition, one of our listings of three buildings received certification as official Milwaukee landmarks. The property consists of the Lion, Hawley and Bloodgood historic homes that have been connected and are now available for lease as office space. This well-deserved designation cements the houses as fundamental building blocks in the story of Milwaukee’s past.
As a family-owned company for three generations, the Barry Company understands that looking to momentous occasions in the past is crucial to building a profitable future. This quarter, we were fortunate to have taken part in several of those moments, both within our company and throughout the market, that we will look back on fondly for years to come.
James T. Barry III
President
The Barry Company Hires New Marketing Coordinator
The Barry Company Hires New Marketing Coordinator
The Barry Company recently hired a new Marketing Coordinator. Katie Robertson will graduate Marquette University in May with a degree in Public Relations. She started part-time earlier in April and will move to full-time after she graduates.
Before joining the Barry team, Katie worked in communications and marketing for Catholic Financial Life, Marquette Campus Ministry, and Discovery World.
We are excited to welcome Katie to the company.
To Conact Katie:
Phone: (414) 271-1870
Email: katie@barrycre.com
The Barry Company Celebrates its 100th Anniversary
The Barry Company Celebrates its 100th Anniversary
The Barry Company, a commercial real estate services firm headquartered in Milwaukee is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Founded in 1921 by James T. Barry, Sr., the Barry Company has been included in many of Wisconsin’s largest and most consequential real estate transactions, including the development of the New Berlin Industrial Park, the Bishop’s Woods Office Park, the Germantown Business Park and many other business parks throughout Wisconsin. The Barry Company worked on the land assemblage for the US Bank building, the massive Amazon distribution center in Kenosha and the new site for the Milwaukee Public Museum. The firm has been a leader in the structuring of sale/leasebacks for corporations such as Harley-Davidson, Thompson Realtors, Haken, Inc and Bentley Worldwide Packaging. The Barry Company’s specialty has always been the structuring of large industrial, office and land transactions.
The Barry Company has consistently been awarded the Commercial Association of Realtors of Wisconsin “Deal of the Year Award in all categories, having won most recently in 2020 for the structuring of an office lease and sale transaction for the Bradley Foundation. Over the years, the company has received scores of other awards for its transactional acumen and creativity.
Throughout its history, the Barry Company has made a very strong commitment to the Milwaukee community. James T. Barry, Jr., who died in 2019, served as President of the Milwaukee Board of Realtors and on the boards of many organizations, including the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. James T. Barry III, who currently serves as President of the Barry Company, is a past chairman of the Commercial Association of Realtors of Wisconsin, the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Policy Forum, the Milwaukee Chapter of the American Red Cross, and other organizations. Mr. Barry currently serves on the boards of the Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, the UWM Foundation and other civic organizations.
“We are proud that the Barry Company has been such an integral part of Milwaukee’s business and civic community for over a century,” said James T. Barry, III. “We believe this is a testament to our strong commitment to our clients as well as our reputation for creativity and hard work. We very much look forward to the next century.
For more information, read a fantastic article published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
