Joseph A Aquino Bio
Name:
Joseph A Aquino
Location:
New York City
Biography:
Joseph Aquino has more than 30 years of New York City real estate experience. He knows the city and knows which tenants belong there. He has worked with many top property owners and retailers, through several challenging real estate cycles with his speciality the full spectrum of retail including luxury, fashion and restaurants. He’s expert at site selection for offices, showrooms, movie theatres, parking garages and industrial space and also trades in the sale, leaseback or management of hotels, casinos and office building globally.
Mr Aquino is known for his work along Madison Avenue, Soho, the Meatpacking District, the Flatiron District, and Nolita and has represented Buccellati, Paul & Shark, Caruso Menswear, Paul Morelli, Tours, Sermonetta, Fogal, John Fluevog and Ports 1961.
Joe also consulted for the 42nd Street Development Project in Times Square in 1992 when Times Square was changing from a deteriorating, low-end neighbourhood into the family centre it has become. He also represented Amtrak for the retail level at Penn Station. He has worked with the business improvement association for The Financial District, The Downtown Alliance, assisting in the Alliance’s analysis for big box retail development, and with various hotels and casinos across the country, advising them in their retail use plans.
Over his three decades of service, he has also worked with property owners such as Blackrock, Extell, Spitzer Enterprises, Hartz Mountain, Stahl Properties, Helmsley Organization, Coca Cola, Trump Organization, Tishman Speyer, Peninsula Hotels, Forest City Ratner, General Investment Development, CIM, Tahl Properties, Kensico Properties, Estate of Sol Goldman, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Taubman, Starwood Hotels, Westfield, Onassis Foundation and Minskoff.
What, for you, is the importance of our global diaspora and how do you contribute to its success?
For years I’ve worked in global real estate bringing the finest companies to New York City. Ever since I met my wife 18 years ago, I’ve been to the north of Ireland over 35 times and am fascinated by its growth. I see there are many ways I can contribute to its success, whether it’s bringing in a top retailer, hotelier, or investor to joint venture or purchase commercial assets.
Tell us how you connect to Belfast:
My wife is originally from Holywood, Belfast
You know you’ve got Belfast heritage when…:
The DNA report says you are three percent Irish. My wife says that’s where I get my stubbornness from.