Celebrating 50 years of building relationships around Washtenaw County.
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1968
Swisher Realty Co. is born
Original Company Logo
Swisher Realty became the leasing agent for Glencoe Hills
Also around this time:
The First State Street Art Fair,
Huron High School opens,
and Crisler Arena opens
1969
Bo Schembechler becomes U of M football coach
The Ann Arbor Blues Festival is created by a group of U of M students, featuring artists like Muddy Waters and B.B. King
No Vacancy!
1970
Glencoe Hills reaches 100% occupancy. A 1-bedroom apartment was $190 and 3-bedroom apartment was $325!
Original company letterhead
1971
Swisher Realty manages the First National Building on the corner of Main St. and Washington
Borders Books opens in Ann Arbor by brothers Tom and Louis Borders. The chain grew to over 500 stores in the US before closing in 2010.
1973
Briarwood Mall opens in Ann Arbor, anchored by JCPenney, Sears and Hudson’s a year later
Swisher is the leasing agent for the newly constructed Wolverine Tower, boasting "high speed elevators"
Location Announcement
Open for Business!
An ad from Swisher Realty Co.
Exclusive leasing agent: Swisher Realty Co.
Yost Field House becomes Yost Ice Arena and serves as Michigan Hockey’s new home
Shakey Jake moves to town, becoming one of Ann Arbor’s favorite regulars
1977
Madonna attends the University of Michigan and lives on South University Ave.
1978
Original Cottage Inn grows and opens Cottage Inn Carryout & Delivery
A newsworthy sale
1979
Michigan Theater Office Building reopens its doors with new management, John Swisher III manages and sells to new owners
Poulos Family were the sellers, sold to Lafourche Realty Co. of Kalamazoo
Housed 8 shops and 20 offices upstairs. Professional offices in the building at the time: Schoolkids Records and Tapes, Albert’s Copying, Shepard Shoes, Sylvia Studio of Dance, Bill’s Bindery, and more.
The Michigan Theater
1979
Monahan’s Fish Market in Kerrytown opens
The Swisher Team, Late 70s
80's Folder Artwork, Old Logo
1980
Michigan Theater purchased and saved by A2 State Bank for $550,000—Swisher Realty brokered the deal
John Swisher gets a mention in the news for mediating the sale of the Michigan Theater
1982
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, founded in 1978, expands into the historic downtown firehouse with 25 exhibits
Zingerman’s Deli opens its doors with 4 employees (5 tables, 4 stools)
1983
Ronald Dankert joins the team
"On the Forefront of Innovation in Ann Arbor Commercial Real Estate"
U of M Hospital establishes “Survival Flight,” the first of its kind in the state, operating 3 helicopters
U of M Hospital's Survival Flight Helicopter
1984
Ron Dankert produces a concert, "Irish Night at the Michigan Theater"
1985
John Swisher III becomes President/CEO
John Swisher III's Agent Profile
Tom Monaghan opens Domino Farms, an iconic structure inspired by architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright, over 270 acres
90's Folder Artwork, New Logo
1991
The inventor of the iPod, Tony Fadell, graduates from the University of Michigan
The Swisher Team, 90's
1993
Swisher creates the first Year-End Vacancy Report
1993
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
1994
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
1995
Vernice “Bunnie” Weinberg reaches 30 years of working for Swisher Realty Co. She began working with John Swisher Jr. at the Butts and Swisher Co. in 1962 and continued as secretary with Swisher Realty.
Vernice Weinberg is recognized in the local newspaper
Larry Page, co-founder of Google, graduates from the University of Michigan
1995
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
Mid-90's
U of M football stadium became known as “The Big House”
1996
Bank of Ann Arbor opens with 15 employees and grows to over 40 employees by 1998
Bank of Ann Arbor
Bank of Ann Arbor Billboard
The Ark opens its doors at new location on Main St.
1996
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
1997
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
1998
John Swisher III and Ron Dankert brought on Dave Hamilton, Bob Bliss, Doug Smith and Bart Wise as partners
The Swisher Team, 90's
Arborland shopping center is redeveloped to become a retail park containing a Toys “R” Us and Marshalls
The 1998 Year-End Vacancy Report
1998
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
1999
Ann Arbor has the lowest office vacancy rate in the Metro Detroit area during it's second quarter at 2.4%. Lease rates averaged $18.94/square foot
1999
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
2000
Swisher Realty Co. rebrands to Swisher Commercial
Name change announced in the paper
2000
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
July, 2001
John Evans joins the team
2001
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
2002
Office / Flex vacancy rate:
2003
Zingerman’s Roadhouse opens
Swisher receives first CoStar Power Broker award for transaction volume and continues to receive recognition today
The CoStar Power Broker award for transaction volume
2003
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2004
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
The Swisher Team, 2005
2005
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
The first fairy door appears in Ann Arbor.
2006
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2007
FestiFools comes to Main Street for first time on April 1
2007
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2008
The Border To Border Trail is started, connecting communities, parks and bike lanes over 50 miles across Washtenaw County
A Snapshot of Commercial Real Estate written by John Swisher III capturing commercial real estate memories from the early 1960's to 2008.
2008
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2009
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair marks its fiftieth year
The Tech Brewery is founded by Swisher Commercial’s Doug Smith (Northern Brewery building owner) and local serial entrepreneur, Dug Song. Together they provided one of the first spaces for start-up businesses and tech culture in Ann Arbor. Dug Song and John Oberle’s Duo Security started with a ‘rent-a-desk’ space at Tech Brewery and has grown into a tech and business giant.
The Tech Brewery
2009
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2010
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2011
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2012
Ann Arbor gets a 150,000 SF Costco warehouse on the corner of Airport Blvd and Ellsworth, bringing 180 new jobs
2012
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2013
Ann Arbor News' Deals of the Year for Commercial Real Estate awarded to Mike Giraud
It is one of the largest sales in Ann Arbor that year, $10.6 million for the 301 E. Liberty Building, purchased by Dahlmann Properties
Returned to local ownership for the first time in 20 years
Mike Giraud recognized for brokering the deal
Swisher Commercial's Current Office
Big House hosted Michigan/Notre Dame game, 115,109 in attendance, record for a college football game since 1927 and NCAA single-game attendance record of all time
2013
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2014
TLS Productions Inc., a full-service production company doubles in size, moves to Ann Arbor at Jackson Plaza – Bart Wise, John Evans, and Charlie Koenn represented the deal.
2014
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2015
Michigan’s leading auto-industry experts and U of M leaders introduce “Mcity”, the world’s first controlled vehicle test site, paving the way for driverless cars
Mike Jurgenson of Swisher Commercial represents the seller of 121 and 123 E. Liberty St. City Council approves plans to build a three-story addition which would bring new residential units downtown
New 6-story hotel, Hyatt Place, on State Street in Ann Arbor is approved, bringing over 140 hotel rooms to the area
GenZe, a Deals of the Year finalist, selling all-electric scooters, moves to Ann Arbor—Bart Wise brokered the deal
2015
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2016
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
May, 2017
Noelle Caprarese joins the team
May, 2017
Stephen Galgan joins the team
Domino’s Farms displays one of the finest Frank Lloyd Wright collections, celebrating his 150th birthday
Randy Maas and Mike Giraud of Swisher Commercial have office space available in Ann Arbor’s first ever skyscraper at 100 S Main St. (the Key Bank building, formerly known as the Glazier Building)
100 S. Main – the Key Bank Building
Ann Arbor’s Skyline is changing due to the new developments: Kingsley Condominiums, 121 Kingsley West, The Glen Hotel, The Residences at 615 S. Main, The Calvin, 611 E University, The Collegian North, Montgomery Houze and 315 S Main—bringing new retail opportunities and housing
Swisher Commercial brokers the sale of the iconic music venue, The Blind Pig. New owners Joe Malcoun, Jason Berry and an investment team plan to maintain it as a music venue, while keeping the same staff
The Blind Pig
Year-End Vacancy Report
2017
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2018
After serving as CEO for 13 years, Dave Hamilton steps down. Swisher Commercial is thankful for his leadership and his continued commercial real estate expertise at the company.
Mike Jurgenson assumes the role of President/CEO of Swisher Commercial
Cyd Debol was appointed to the Michigan Realtors Board of Directors representing the Commercial Board of Realtors (CBOR)
Joe Palms receives his CCIM designation
Joe Palms receives his CCIM designation
2018
Happy 50th Swisher Commercial!
New website launched in March, visit www.SwisherCommercial.com
The Swisher Year-End Vacancy Report turns 25 years old and celebrates a new look
“It is truly an honor to follow in the footsteps of our past
leadership. We have a long successful history and I am very
excited about the future as we celebrate our 50th anniversary.
We have an outstanding team in place that is committed to
providing our clients with exceptional service.”
—Mike Jurgenson, CCIM
2018
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2019
Best Western Hotel comes to Saline. Tony Caprarese represented the City of Saline in the sale of the land for this new hotel development.
Downtown Ann Arbor gets it's first axe throwing bar. Randy Maas and Mike Giraud brokered this deal.
Axe Ventura
Photo by Nicole Hester, MLive Media Group
Ann Arbor is Named America’s No. 3 Tech Hub by Bloomberg
2019
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2020
Ann Arbor's first Commercial Real Estate Symposium, January 2020. Presentations were made by Mike Jurgenson, Bart Wise and Mike Giraud of Swisher Commercial, as well as Regional Economic Specialist Don Grimes.
Ask a Broker series begins—knowledge for our business community.
As our community faces COVID-19, Swisher agents continue to provide commercial real estate opportunities from home and in-person showings, to safely get people back to work
Video by Michigan Realtors
2020
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2021
Bart Wise becomes new President & CEO of Swisher Commercial
Barton Wise
As Michigan fully re-opens post Covid-19 restrictions, we reflect on the last year. We are proud of our community and the manner in which businesses adapted to serve Washtenaw County & SE Michigan. While Covid-19 created unique challenges for retail and office sectors, recovery in those areas is already strong. In contrast, demand for industrial space and development land surged throughout the entire pandemic and remains in high demand. Swisher brokers are pleased to continue connecting clients with commercial real estate opportunities.
Read Washtenaw County's Economic Forecast
2021
Year-End Vacancy Report Released
2022
Cyd Debol celebrates 20 years with Swisher Commercial and is recognized for serving on the Commercial Board of Realtors (CBOR) Board of Directors for the past 9 years
2023
Tony Caprarese celebrates his 20 year anniversary at Swisher Commercial