(L-R) Anthony Lolli, Founder/CEO, Luis Santa (Sunnyside franchisee) and Carlos Angelucci, COO
June 27, 2013 By Christian Murray
A new real estate firm is about to open on the corner of 43rd Avenue and 49nd Street, where a battered grocery & convenience store was previously located.
The firm, called Rapid Realty Sunnyside, is expected to open in two weeks and will employee about 15 agents. Rapid Realty is a franchise operation where it has more than 50 real estate offices around New York City, with most in Brooklyn.
Luis Santa, the owner of the Sunnyside franchise, said that his focus will be on rentals. “Our company has contacts with building owners across the city and we will get their Queens listings,” he said.
Rapid Realty, companywide, generates about 80% of its revenue from residential rentals, with commercial rentals and property sales each composing 10% of the remainder.
Rapid Realty was founded by Anthony Lolli in Brooklyn in 1998.The firm began franchising in 2009, and now has more than 60 franchise locations in the Tri-state area, with several about to open in Boston.
However, the Sunnyside location will only be its third in Queens. Its other Queens locations are in Astoria and Forest Hills.
“We want to get into the Queens and this [Sunnyside] is a good neighborhood for it,” Santa said. “The area is beautiful and it is great for transportation.”
The company is known for providing its employees with a 15% raise if they get a tattoo that sports the firm’s logo.
