Over 35 years of commercial real estate solutions.
Equity started in Columbus, Ohio in 1987 with one office, but founder and visionary Steve Wathen viewed Equity as a national commercial real estate firm from day one. With that mindset, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an emphasis on customer service, Steve grew the company into 9 offices nationwide, and he continues to expand its footprint to this day.
Equity Concepts Realty is founded.
Steve Wathen, a born entreprenuer, pursued numerous enterprises during his time as a student at The Ohio State University, principally roofing and painting houses. With a goal of working on and owning his own property. By the time he graduated, Steve owned the two-unit property and had acquired an eight-unit building, as well as his Ohio State Real Estate license. The inspiration for the company was born, and, as the plan for the company was taking shape, Steve continued to acquire dilapidated rental properties in the vicinity of the University, renovating and renting them out.
Ultimately, Steve would own 55 apartments in nearly 20 different properties with the goal of creating enough equity to transition into acquisition, development, and construction of true commercial properties.
Steve Wathen pictured above with his first 1537-1539 Franklin Avenue property.
More solutions.
During 1987, Steve worked specifically on the startup of his commercial real estate company, which he named Equity Concepts Realty. On November 11, 1987, the company formally began to operate, and this was Steve’s first day in his new office at 367 W. Third Avenue in Columbus Ohio, a residential property he had renovated and converted to office space. From that first day, Wathen envisioned Equity Concepts Realty as a national company that would eventually work throughout the US.
With a goal of developing and building larger commercial properties, Wathen recognized with his understanding of development, brokerage and property management, that he lacked a critical skill set: commercial construction. With this in mind, Steve brought two partners into the business who had worked together for several years in a commercial construction company. With this expansion in 1989, Equity became a true, full-service commercial real estate company and the name was changed to Equity Concepts Development Company.
That same year, 1989, the company successfully won and began development of its first ground up development and construction project, Mills James Teleproductions, pictured above. As time passed, most people, both inside and outside the company referred to the company as simply “equity”, so the company was renamed Equity, and the current logo was designed in 1996.
Continued growth.
By 1996—a decade after Equity was founded, the company had outgrown the original office on W. Third Avenue. To accommodate its growth, the organization moved to its second location on Long Street in Downtown Columbus. Originally a car dealership, the 10,000 sq ft building was renovated and converted into loft offices.
Serving more of Ohio.
Two years later in 1998, Equity established an office in Cincinnati after launching development projects in both the Cincinnati and Dayton markets. As a result, the company extended its footprint into two additional locations in Ohio.
Here’s Patrick Wathen at an Equity project in Cincinnati.
Bigger and better.
By 2003, Equity shifted from the traditional corporate structure with a single executive leading all of its business units, to an organizational structure with business units divided into separate profit centers with leaders in charge of each division. As a result of its continued momentum and growth, Equity moved to a third location in Worthington, Ohio.
After several more years, Equity moved to an even larger office space in the Worthington area, located on Hutchinson Ave. This marked the fourth location for the company.
Expanding nationally.
Equity’s growth continued in 2006, when we opened our first office outside of Ohio–in Tampa, Florida, to tap into the Southeast market, which was the fastest-growing sector at the time. The following years saw additional expansion, with new offices in Dayton, Ohio and San Antonio, Texas (2009), Orlando, Florida (2009), Austin, Texas (2014), and Chicago, Illinois and Atlanta, Georgia (2021).
Celebrating 35 years.
On September 1, 2022, we celebrated 35 years in business.
TruePointe
We’re showcasing the Equity 360 Advantage with Hilliard’s first true live-work-play development, right here beside our corporate headquarters. TruePointe is set to open in xxxxx.
