Gola Corporate Real Estate takes big step into Philadelphia
By Natalie Kostelni
Philadelphia Business Journal

Gola Corporate Real Estate has decided to open a Center City office after four decades with its base in the suburbs.

The company has taken a small space in MakeOffices in Commerce Square at 2001 Market St. It will continue to have an office on the Boulevard of the Generals in Norristown, where it has long maintained its headquarters.

Over the years, the company has entertained the idea of opening a Philadelphia office, but never made the commitment to do so until now, said Mark Gola. “We dabbled with the thought in the past because we would do a handful to 10 deals downtown each year, but we were always waiting for the right person,” he said.

The firm hired Brian Neary, who had stints doing Center City deals while at Newmark Knight Frank and Brandywine Realty Trust. His father, Rod Neary, is a principal at Gola. The company also hired Colin Fleming, who has done tenant representation transactions as well as worked at Allan Domb Real Estate.

The firm’s plan is to grow the Center City office, Mark Gola said.

Since its founding in 1979 by John Gola, Mark’s father, the company has focused on representing tenants in office real estate deals mainly in Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks counties, with a smattering of deals in Philadelphia. It also has several national clients that take it to other regions.

While other firms advise tenants in real estate transactions, Gola seeks to differentiate itself by offering clients construction and project management services. “The idea is to have a tenant rep and a project manager on each transaction,” Gola said. “We see that as advantageous.”