Family-Run & Results-Driven: The Blau & Berg Company’s Legacy

Ken Crimmins embarked on his journey in real estate almost serendipitously. When he accepted a position with The Blau & Berg Company, primarily to identify properties for his father’s construction enterprise, he could scarcely have imagined that, over five decades later, he would have cultivated a family-run firm that has become synonymous with Northern New Jersey real estate. Since assuming the role of principal in 1990, Crimmins has adeptly navigated the challenges of an intensely competitive market, steering the Short Hills-based firm toward consistent year-over-year growth. Today, Blau & Berg is home to a dedicated team 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; Vanessa 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, Secaucus, and their neighboring communities. The surging demand for warehouse and distribution space in recent 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 supply chain. Ken Crimmins attributes this growth to the region’s substantial population and consumer base, coupled with a scarcity of available land.

Despite its boutique stature, Blau & Berg proudly boasts eight individual brokers who hold the esteemed SIOR designation, a testament to their membership in the Society of Office & Industrial Realtors, a vital networking organization. Jason Crimmins, who manages the firm’s daily operations, firmly believes in the importance of foundational principles. “Our business thrives on relationships,” he asserts. “We are fortunate to have established a strong, long-standing reputation 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 transformative surge in the northeast corridor’s last-mile logistics sector, propelling the industrial market to the forefront of commercial real estate. After a multi-year period of adjustment, he notes a stabilization in occupancy rates over the past few quarters as a promising sign of what lies ahead. “With post-election fiscal clarity, our firm is witnessing 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 Industrial property; the nearly 300,000 s/f Elizabeth Metropolitan Logistics Center, a brand-new Brookfield Property; and the expansive Supor Industrial Facility in Harrison, encompassing nearly 37 acres and approximately 650,000 s/f, have all attracted robust interest in recent months.”