From site selection, design and construction through leasing and management, The Heskel Group does it all, in-house and hands-on.
Encompassing entertainment centers, business and professional offices, retail stores and medical centers, The Heskel Group has earned a reputation as an extremely efficient builder, with an unblemished record of on-time, within-budget completion. A pioneer in the introduction of triple A business tenants to the Austin Street neighborhood, The Group focuses on handsome, efficiently designed buildings, sensitive to community needs.
The Heskel Group's overall objective is not just growth, but quality growth--continuing to bring the prestige of Manhattan without the price.
Step inside The Heskel Group and see what's on the drawing board...
Encompassing entertainment centers, business and professional offices, retail stores and medical centers, The Heskel Group has earned a reputation as an extremely efficient builder, with an unblemished record of on-time, within-budget completion. A pioneer in the introduction of triple A business tenants to the Austin Street neighborhood, The Group focuses on handsome, efficiently designed buildings, sensitive to community needs.
The Heskel Group's overall objective is not just growth, but quality growth--continuing to bring the prestige of Manhattan without the price.
Step inside The Heskel Group and see what's on the drawing board...
AWARDS
- The United States Thunderbirds Award
- United States Air Force for Devotion and Assistance in the Recruiting Service 12/10/72
- United States Air Force Detachment 104 for Outstanding Contribution
- Detective Crime Clinic Citizen of the Month N.J./N.Y.
- Shomrim Society Police Department City of New York, 3/19/79.
- The Honor Legion of the Police Department of New York for Courage, Loyalty and Fidelity, 12/19/79.
- Community School District 27, Certificate of Outstanding achievement 12/18/80.
- Member of the Motion Picture Television Advisory Board, appointed by Governor Hugh Carey, 7/13/80.
- Special Honor Police P.B.A., Phil Caruso as Honorary Captain, 1982.
- New York State Legislative Resolution Assembly No. 1640 adopted by the Governor in Recognition of Yeheskel Elias, 6/26/83.
- Man of the Year, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 10/6/83.
- Kiwanis Club of Forest Hills, 1/25/84.
- Chamber of Commerce, Borough of Queens, for Excellence in Construction, 1986.
- Chamber of Commerce, Borough of Queens, for Excellence in Construction, 1988.
- P.S. 220 of Queens. Gratitude for Computer School in 1984.
- Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Jewish National Fund, Nassau Chapter, 1994.
- Winner of Queens County Builders & Contractors Association Award, 1996
- Special Merit Accommodation for Achievement presented by Governor George Pataki, December, 1997
- State of New York Legislative Resolution Senate No. 2029 By Senator Hevesi. Honoring Yeheskel Elias for his outstanding contributions to the community of Forest Hills in the Borough of Queens, New York, June 15, 1999.
- Queens County Builders and Contractors Association award for the Forest Hills Theatre Building for Excellence in Design & Construction. Presented on December 11, 1999.
TIMELINE OF AQUISITIONS
THE HESKEL GROUP would not have risen to its ranks without CEO, YEHESKEL ELIAS, who arrived in the United States from Israel in 1971. Yeheskel Elias spent his early days attending Queens College and working as an usher (at a theatre he later purchased). Below is a timeline of this resourceful man's accomplishments, giving some chronological perspective on Yeheskel Elias' vision, which has contributed to making The Heskel Group a celebrated and prominent commercial developer in the New York City area.
June 1, 2013
Grand Opening of CVS @ 800 Tenth Avenue NYC (corner of 54th St.)
Purchased 980 Brush Hollow Rd Westbury NY, 50,000 sq. feet of land.
Developed a 6,000 sq. ft. retail center and plans to build a carwash
on balance of site. Approval by town under review, total cost
$7,000,000.00.
(American Car Wash of Westbury)
June 1, 2013
Grand Opening of CVS @ 800 Tenth Avenue NYC (corner of 54th St.)
December 2012
On December 12, 2012 The Heskel Group purchased 800 Tenth Ave NYC (corner of 54th St.) a retail condo to be built for CVS long-term lease.
Price $11,750,000.00.
June 2012
Sold 71-09 Austin Street for $11 million
February 2012
Purchased 991 Third Avenue for $18.42 million.
December 2011
Sold 70-10 Austin Street, Forest Hills NY for $13.5 million.
2011
Leased and built a new structure at 1037 Northern Blvd. Roslyn, NY (separate structure) for Enterprise Rent-A-Car
2011
Following Blockbuster video bankruptcy, leased and contracted former Blockbuster site at 70-31 Austin St. to Charles Schwab
November 2009
Purchased 1035-37 Northern Blvd. Roslyn NY. Contracted state-of-the-art car wash using green technology.
November 2008
Purchased107-16 Continental Ave and 69-39 Austin Street
Forest Hills from it's previous partner Federal Realty Investment Trust
for $33,000,000.00.
November 2008
Purchased 980 Brush Hollow Rd Westbury NY, 50,000 sq. feet of land.
Developed a 6,000 sq. ft. retail center and plans to build a carwash
on balance of site. Approval by town under review, total cost
$7,000,000.00.
(American Car Wash of Westbury)
November 2008
Purchased 107-16 Continental Ave and 69-39 Austin Street
Forest Hills from its previous partner Federal Realty Investment Trust
for $33,000,000.00.
November 2005
Completed Ann Taylor at the Brittany 71-09 Austin Street.
2004
Purchased 71-09 Austin Street Forest Hills and developed the only Ann
Taylor store in Queens with 7 high end apartments all rented to Jet
Blue as full service apartments.
Total cost $7,000,000.00.
April 2003
Completed 70-10 Austin Street renovation. Cost of project $2,500,000
September, 2002
Started complete reconstruction and added a second floor medical space at 70-10 Austin Street
November 28, 2001
Grand opening of Staples 107-16 Continental Avenue, second floor, Forest Hills
November 8, 2001
Grand opening of Ann Taylor Loft 70-31 Austin Street, Forest Hills.
March 9, 2001
Development of Gap center complete and opens for business.
March 2000
Started development of 69-39 Austin Street to a Gap center encompassing 22,000 sq. ft.
August 28, 1999
A Duane Reade flagship drugstore located at 107-16 Continental Avenue (formerly the Forest Hills Twin movie theatre) opened up for business.
July 23, 1999
The newest design in Blockbuster video stores at 70-31 Austin Street, adjacent to The Disney Store opened on Friday, July 23rd.
March 31, 1999
Opening of UA Brandon Cinemas, located at 70-20 Austin Street (formerly Continental I & II) sixty days ahead of its target opening date at a total cost of 1 million dollars.
November 20, 1998
Opening of nine-plex United Artist Movie Theater. Midway Movie Theatre 108-22 Queens Blvd.
August 28, 1998
Opening of Liberty Travel.
August 13 1998
Opening of Krispy Kreme store.
Dec. 16 1997
Repurchased 69-39 Austin Street (building with theater) for $3,350,000 and slated for redevelopment in 1999.
Sept. 1997
Started construction at the Midway Theatre 108-22 Queens Blvd. for conversion into nine stadium seating state-of-the-art theaters which includes retail establishments: Krispy Kreme and Liberty Travel.
August 26, 1997
Merged part of The Heskel Group with Maryland based Federal Realty Invest Trust Co., and incorporated properties into a joint venture partnership.
June 1997
Purchased from United Artist Theatres, the Forest Hills Theater 107-16 Continental Avenue and the Midway Theatre 108-22 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills, Queens for a total cost of $9,000,000.
1996
Demolition and construction of the site 70-25 to 70-31 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens for the Disney Store, Inc., 7,000 sq. feet, one-of-a-kind superstore. Total project cost $5,000,000.
1995
Car wash construction completed and open for business.
1994
Purchased, in a multi-million dollar deal, a group of land and buildings at 70-25 to 70-31 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens from Astoria Federal Savings Bank Repurchased a parcel of land at 232-04 Northern Boulevard in Little Neck, Queens, in which to develop into a state-of-the-art car wash and detail shop at a cost of over $2,000,000 for self use.
1987
Constructed Heskel's Professional Center at 70-10 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens at a cost of $2,600,000.Constructed a 54,000 sq. ft. office and retail center at 69-30 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens. Sold in 1991 for $8,700,000.
1985
Built the flagship Heskel's Plaza 68-60 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Cost $6,000,000. Tenants included American Express, First Federal Bank and Merrill Lynch Medical. Sold in 1989 for $9,750,000.This office building also housed the first and largest MRI center in the United States. Constructed on the 5th floor, it was considered a "miracle" because of such installations heretofore had always occupied the ground floor of a building.
1984
Constructed first commercial building at 69-39 Austin Street, Forest Hills Queens. which included the largest theater in Queens, and the only one with a 70mm screen. Major tenant was Citibank. Total cost $2,500,000. Sold in November 1989 for $4,100,000.
1981
The Continental Theatre was converted to a twin theater in record time of 3 weeks, on a $500,000 investment.
1979
August 19th, investing $250,000 built and opened Heskel's Restaurant at 70-28 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens--a first class luxurious restaurant/nightclub.
1975
August 5th - Purchased the Continental Theatre, 70-20 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens from the Walter Reade organization.
1974
Purchased car wash business on 88-16 Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, Queens. Purchased The Fair Theater on Astoria Boulevard, Jackson Heights, Queens.
1972
Promoted direct telecast of Frazier-Foreman match from Kingston, Jamaica. Earned over $100,000 in a single night. September 22nd, bought first movie theater, the Boulevard Theatre at 82-24 Northern Blvd., in Jackson Heights and sold it in 1975.
Grand Opening of CVS @ 800 Tenth Avenue NYC (corner of 54th St.)
Purchased 980 Brush Hollow Rd Westbury NY, 50,000 sq. feet of land.
Developed a 6,000 sq. ft. retail center and plans to build a carwash
on balance of site. Approval by town under review, total cost
$7,000,000.00.
(American Car Wash of Westbury)
June 1, 2013
Grand Opening of CVS @ 800 Tenth Avenue NYC (corner of 54th St.)
December 2012
On December 12, 2012 The Heskel Group purchased 800 Tenth Ave NYC (corner of 54th St.) a retail condo to be built for CVS long-term lease.
Price $11,750,000.00.
June 2012
Sold 71-09 Austin Street for $11 million
February 2012
Purchased 991 Third Avenue for $18.42 million.
December 2011
Sold 70-10 Austin Street, Forest Hills NY for $13.5 million.
2011
Leased and built a new structure at 1037 Northern Blvd. Roslyn, NY (separate structure) for Enterprise Rent-A-Car
2011
Following Blockbuster video bankruptcy, leased and contracted former Blockbuster site at 70-31 Austin St. to Charles Schwab
November 2009
Purchased 1035-37 Northern Blvd. Roslyn NY. Contracted state-of-the-art car wash using green technology.
November 2008
Purchased107-16 Continental Ave and 69-39 Austin Street
Forest Hills from it's previous partner Federal Realty Investment Trust
for $33,000,000.00.
November 2008
Purchased 980 Brush Hollow Rd Westbury NY, 50,000 sq. feet of land.
Developed a 6,000 sq. ft. retail center and plans to build a carwash
on balance of site. Approval by town under review, total cost
$7,000,000.00.
(American Car Wash of Westbury)
November 2008
Purchased 107-16 Continental Ave and 69-39 Austin Street
Forest Hills from its previous partner Federal Realty Investment Trust
for $33,000,000.00.
November 2005
Completed Ann Taylor at the Brittany 71-09 Austin Street.
2004
Purchased 71-09 Austin Street Forest Hills and developed the only Ann
Taylor store in Queens with 7 high end apartments all rented to Jet
Blue as full service apartments.
Total cost $7,000,000.00.
April 2003
Completed 70-10 Austin Street renovation. Cost of project $2,500,000
September, 2002
Started complete reconstruction and added a second floor medical space at 70-10 Austin Street
November 28, 2001
Grand opening of Staples 107-16 Continental Avenue, second floor, Forest Hills
November 8, 2001
Grand opening of Ann Taylor Loft 70-31 Austin Street, Forest Hills.
March 9, 2001
Development of Gap center complete and opens for business.
March 2000
Started development of 69-39 Austin Street to a Gap center encompassing 22,000 sq. ft.
August 28, 1999
A Duane Reade flagship drugstore located at 107-16 Continental Avenue (formerly the Forest Hills Twin movie theatre) opened up for business.
July 23, 1999
The newest design in Blockbuster video stores at 70-31 Austin Street, adjacent to The Disney Store opened on Friday, July 23rd.
March 31, 1999
Opening of UA Brandon Cinemas, located at 70-20 Austin Street (formerly Continental I & II) sixty days ahead of its target opening date at a total cost of 1 million dollars.
November 20, 1998
Opening of nine-plex United Artist Movie Theater. Midway Movie Theatre 108-22 Queens Blvd.
August 28, 1998
Opening of Liberty Travel.
August 13 1998
Opening of Krispy Kreme store.
Dec. 16 1997
Repurchased 69-39 Austin Street (building with theater) for $3,350,000 and slated for redevelopment in 1999.
Sept. 1997
Started construction at the Midway Theatre 108-22 Queens Blvd. for conversion into nine stadium seating state-of-the-art theaters which includes retail establishments: Krispy Kreme and Liberty Travel.
August 26, 1997
Merged part of The Heskel Group with Maryland based Federal Realty Invest Trust Co., and incorporated properties into a joint venture partnership.
June 1997
Purchased from United Artist Theatres, the Forest Hills Theater 107-16 Continental Avenue and the Midway Theatre 108-22 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills, Queens for a total cost of $9,000,000.
1996
Demolition and construction of the site 70-25 to 70-31 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens for the Disney Store, Inc., 7,000 sq. feet, one-of-a-kind superstore. Total project cost $5,000,000.
1995
Car wash construction completed and open for business.
1994
Purchased, in a multi-million dollar deal, a group of land and buildings at 70-25 to 70-31 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens from Astoria Federal Savings Bank Repurchased a parcel of land at 232-04 Northern Boulevard in Little Neck, Queens, in which to develop into a state-of-the-art car wash and detail shop at a cost of over $2,000,000 for self use.
1987
Constructed Heskel's Professional Center at 70-10 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens at a cost of $2,600,000.Constructed a 54,000 sq. ft. office and retail center at 69-30 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens. Sold in 1991 for $8,700,000.
1985
Built the flagship Heskel's Plaza 68-60 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Cost $6,000,000. Tenants included American Express, First Federal Bank and Merrill Lynch Medical. Sold in 1989 for $9,750,000.This office building also housed the first and largest MRI center in the United States. Constructed on the 5th floor, it was considered a "miracle" because of such installations heretofore had always occupied the ground floor of a building.
1984
Constructed first commercial building at 69-39 Austin Street, Forest Hills Queens. which included the largest theater in Queens, and the only one with a 70mm screen. Major tenant was Citibank. Total cost $2,500,000. Sold in November 1989 for $4,100,000.
1981
The Continental Theatre was converted to a twin theater in record time of 3 weeks, on a $500,000 investment.
1979
August 19th, investing $250,000 built and opened Heskel's Restaurant at 70-28 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens--a first class luxurious restaurant/nightclub.
1975
August 5th - Purchased the Continental Theatre, 70-20 Austin Street, Forest Hills, Queens from the Walter Reade organization.
1974
Purchased car wash business on 88-16 Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, Queens. Purchased The Fair Theater on Astoria Boulevard, Jackson Heights, Queens.
1972
Promoted direct telecast of Frazier-Foreman match from Kingston, Jamaica. Earned over $100,000 in a single night. September 22nd, bought first movie theater, the Boulevard Theatre at 82-24 Northern Blvd., in Jackson Heights and sold it in 1975.