In the late 1960s, the company began shifting its focus from residential to commercial property development. Paragano Building Corporation—later known as Paragano Enterprises—began acquiring and developing retail and office properties throughout Essex, Morris and Union Counties in New Jersey. This included The Village Shopping Center, Short Hills Plaza, Five Points Shopping Center, and the Madison Shopping Center.
As the commercial portfolio grew, so did the need for professional property management. By the 1980s, the company had transitioned into a full-service commercial real estate firm, managing nearly one million square feet of space while developing new sites across New Jersey, Ohio and the West Coast.
In 1987, Larry Paragano Jr. joined the company after earning a Business Administration degree from Villanova University. Under his father’s guidance, he gained hands-on experience in lease negotiations, financial forecasting, permitting, construction management, and every facet of the real estate development process.
By 1990, Larry Jr. took over daily operations and was named Managing General Partner of Paragano Associates. His leadership ushered in a new era for the company, expanding into senior living with the development of Paragon Village—a 170-unit assisted and independent living community in Mount Olive, NJ. He also led third-party construction projects for national brands like Ford, Van Heusen and Jaguar, managing over 1 million square feet of custom commercial builds.
In 2009, the Paragano Development team made the strategic decision to divest most of its New Jersey holdings and shift its focus to the Southeast. Larry Jr. relocated with his family to the Carolinas and began building a new portfolio centered around long-term growth and conservative reinvestment in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.
We don’t chase trends—we build for stability. We don’t outsource the hard stuff—we stay involved. And we don’t hide behind call centers—you can always reach us directly.
Through every market cycle, Paragano Development has stayed true to its core values:
Contact us to learn more about our properties and partnerships and how we can help bring your next real estate development project to life.
In the 2020s, the fourth generation joined the family-oriented business, carrying forward decades of expertise and dedication. Today, they own and manage a diverse portfolio of retail, office, assisted living, multi-family, and residential properties in growing markets like Charleston, Columbia, Beaufort, and Greenville. New residential development projects are underway in Texas and South Carolina , and the company has investment interests across the Southeast.