Kling Real Estate: Celebrating 50 Years with the Chamber
By MICHAEL ANDERSON
Content Development Specialist
To Melvin Kling Sr., owner of Kling Real Estate LTD., the key to building a successful business is all about satisfying the customer.
A native Staten Islander, Kling grew up working on the borough’s farms in the afternoons while attending elementary school. After graduating high school, he made his way into Manhattan to work as a salesman for Singer Sewing Machine Company and quickly learned their motto: “The customer is always right.” That saying was something he would never forget. Within two years, he was promoted to sales manager of Singer’s largest store located at 249 W. 34th Street, in the heart of the garment industry
“I always wanted to do what was right for the customer. I don’t want to do anything that would hurt someone and make that person lose something in the long run. I want to treat others the way I would like to be treated. It’s nothing special,” says the 90-year-old.
Following 17 years of experience as Sales Manager of Singer Company, Kling, now a married man and father of four, decided he wanted a business of his very own. Kling returned to Staten Island and bought the Honeywood Diner in Great Kills. After four years, he decided to sell his share to his partner but wasn’t quite sure what was next on his plate.
“When I had the diner, a lawyer came in one day. We had breakfast, and he said, ‘You should be in real estate. You don’t look like a restauranteur. You look like a salesman,’” Kling recalled. “So, I decided to get my license. I did exceptionally well and was offered a partnership, but I knew it was time for me to open my own Real Estate.”
Kling Real Estate, Ltd. – which has maintained the same Lincoln Avenue headquarters in Grant City since 1972 – grew its business by developing and building residential and commercial real estate throughout the borough. Kling provided business owners the opportunity to own their stores instead of renting, and he empowered homeowners to have input on their new homes.
“We did something different. Most builders constructed ‘cookie cutters’ – fifty houses all alike. We built custom,” says Kling. “We built over 250 custom homes. Custom meaning to suit you, the customer. And I wanted quality homes because I didn’t want you calling me afterward to complain about things being wrong. If I couldn’t sell you a quality house, I wouldn’t sell it to you. That was my attitude.”
Perhaps the most significant way he showed his faith in people was by assisting them with their home purchases. Kling heard from many city workers who explained their struggles to obtain the required 20% down payment.
“I had all these customers. Cops. Firemen. Sanitation workers. Bus drivers. These people had solid jobs, solid incomes, and benefits,” said Kling. “What’s a better customer to have?
Kling went to Security Federal Savings and Loan, which was located on the corner of Post and Port Richmond avenues, and convinced their President, John Fogerty, to back Kling to establish a mortgage company for secondary financing for hard-working individuals. After his “one-year trial” ended with zero issues, Kling persuaded Fogerty to accompany him to larger banks to structure the same second mortgage agreement with them
“They trusted me. Soon, this place was full of cops and firemen,” Kling laughed.
Helping Islanders in need isn’t just reserved for Kling’s clients. He served on numerous committees at Community Board 3 for 15 years, serving as Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, Land Use, and Parks Committee. He was past President of the South Shore Lions Club and was the driving force for creating the South Shore YMCA, whom he served for 38 years.
During that period, he served as Chairman of the Board and worked on the Land Use Committee. At that capacity, he was instrumental in the acquisition of the land that the YMCA is situated on today as well as obtaining private financing and overseeing the construction and completion of the project. He was also responsible for gaining approvals to convert a pond on the property to a parking lot to accommodate the YMCA’s growing membership. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed as he received the YMCA’s “Man of the Year Volunteer Award” in 1988 and 1997 before the Eltingville center honored him again in 2010 with the naming of the Melvin E. Kling Sr. Teen Fitness Center.
That desire to support the Staten Island community was also why Kling immediately joined the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce after establishing Kling Real Estate.
This year, Grant City’s Kling Real Estate LTD. is celebrating its 50th anniversary in business and 50th year as a member of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
“I believed the Chamber was an outlet to help everybody on Staten Island. The Chamber is a good information point,” he said.