Lew Finkelstein
By Joshua Burd
VanRockCRE has welcomed veteran retail broker Lew Finkelstein, bolstering its team just months after the launch of the Midland Park-based commercial real estate services firm.
Finkelstein, who spent 24 years with The Goldstein Group, joins VanRock with a focus on landlord and tenant representation and investment sales throughout New Jersey. He’ll look to leverage a career that includes more than 800 completed transactions totaling more than $1 billion in deal volume, having exclusively represented major national tenants such as 7-Eleven and T-Mobile in their New Jersey expansion efforts while also counting Capital One, Great Clips, Strauss Discount Auto, Verizon Wireless and Retro Fitness as clients.
In moving to VanRock, which was founded by CJ Huter and Marc Palestina, he now works hand in hand with two former colleagues from The Goldstein Group.
“Lew is a highly respected professional whose reputation, experience and relationships speak for themselves,” Huter said. “Having worked alongside Lew for many years, Marc and I know firsthand the value he brings to clients. His addition further strengthens our platform and reinforces our commitment to delivering best-in-class representation.”
VanRockCRE noted that Finkelstein joined The Goldstein Group in 2002 and quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the firm’s most accomplished brokers. He was promoted to vice president in 2005 and named executive vice president in 2013, the team said, noting that he has also been recognized with multiple CoStar Power Broker of the Year awards, reflecting his consistent performance and leadership within the industry.
On the landlord side, Finkelstein has represented a lengthy roster of institutional and private owners, including Vornado Realty Trust, Urban Edge Properties, Maxim Enterprises, Urstadt Biddle Properties, Wasa Properties, PMG Petroleum and Black Greek Group, according to a news release. His experience also includes brokering many net-leased investment properties for brands such as TD Bank, Wawa, Chipotle, Aldi, Harbor Freight, ShopRite and 7-Eleven, as well as arranging the sale of shopping centers across New Jersey.
“Lew’s career reflects exactly what VanRockCRE stands for: integrity, market expertise and long-term client relationships,” Palestina said. “We’re thrilled to welcome him as a valued member of our growing team.”
Prior to entering commercial real estate, Finkelstein spent the first 25 years of his professional career in the garment industry, where he manufactured domestically after graduating from Rider College.
“I’m excited to join VanRockCRE and reunite with CJ and Marc as we continue to build something special,” Finkelstein said. “After a very successful career at The Goldstein Group, this opportunity allows me to bring my experience and relationships to a firm that is focused, entrepreneurial and client-driven.”
