“As a Chef and Restaurateur with more than 35 restaurant ownership and operations in my career, I have met many real estate brokers. However, Richard Santore is much more than just another broker. Having worked in many states and countries around the world, I can speak from experience that working with Richard Santore has been the absolute smoothest; he upholds the highest professionalism. Richard listens and hears what his clients need. He is a connector and knows how to put deals together. All who come to the table come out winners. I have enjoyed working with Richard and his office on three separate deals to date and they have all been successful. As a native New Jerseyan and a Monmouth County resident with three operational restaurants, I highly recommend Bielat Santore & Company for all your commercial hospitality real estate needs.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Santore and his firm, Bielat Santore & Company for the exceptional job he did in selling my late brother’s restaurant, Lory’s Lakeside, a mainstay in North Brunswick for almost 30 years. With my brother’s untimely passing in 2019, right before the COVID pandemic began, we knew that we were going to hit very difficult times in the restaurant industry, but we were determined to keep Lory’s Lakeside operating until Richard could find a buyer. Richard’s expertise in the sale of restaurants and real estate in general afforded us the opportunity to find a qualified buyer during the most difficult of all years for restaurants. We were already acquainted with Richard’s professionalism, trustworthiness and strong work ethic as he had sold another restaurant of ours 7 years earlier. Critical to the success of this sale was that he also developed a level of trust with the buyers and was able to manage them through this difficult transaction which was compounded by the COVID epidemic. We are grateful to Richard for his guidance and service during this trying period and would highly recommend him and Bielat Santore & Company to anyone looking to buy/sell a restaurant.”
“When my managing partner at the Sitting Duck in Long Branch, NJ decided to retire, I was faced with the decision of what to do? I decided I would not be able to run two restaurants and remain successful. So, I turned to Richard Santore of Bielat Santore & Company to sell my restaurant. His company had sold two of my restaurants already.
The restaurant I was selling was successful and I knew a buyer would be imminent, so I signed a listing agreement with the firm in October 2019. However, I did not anticipate at the time that the corona virus would also be imminent. Through Richard’s efforts we executed a contract in February 2020 with a buyer, right before everything was shut down due to the pandemic. During the ensuing 12 months the team at Bielat Santore & Company kept the deal moving forward even under the most adverse conditions, until they were able to bring the deal to the closing table.
Richard and I have known each other for over 25 years. There is no one else I would trust the sale of my restaurants with.”
“Owning a building and liquor license in Asbury Park NJ, while living in New York was a challenging job to manage. Once I decided to sell my property and liquor license, Richard Santore of Bielat Santore & Company was recommended to me by my attorney. Richard defines professionalism in the realty business. He is capable, intelligent, and has amazing communication skills. His diligence and perseverance in a tough market due to the pandemic, proved to be no obstacle for such a seasoned professional.
Richard is resourceful, courteous, fair and goes above and beyond to seal the deal. He kept me updated throughout the selling process, execution of contract and the completion of sale. Richard proved to be reliable and honest, which are rare attributes in business.
Not only do I highly recommend Bielat Santore & Company as an exceptional real estate company, they have proven to have their finger on the pulse in the restaurant industry by publishing an informative weekly newsletter to assist the hospitality industry in navigating these unprecedented times. Richard and his team truly outshine all other realtors.”
“After successfully running two very busy restaurants, one for 40 years and the other for 35 years, I made the decision to step aside from one. I devoted my entire life to these restaurants and will always take great pride in my accomplishments and successes. Yet, when it came to selling one, I was lost and overwhelmed. I really didn’t know where to start. I had managed restaurants intensely for 40 years but had never sold one. I began interviewing restaurant brokers and attorneys throughout New Jersey. No one really impressed me, and a some even told me “the deal you are looking to make is impossible.”
Then I met Richard Santore of Bielat, Santore and Company, and everything started to fall in place. Mr. Santore quickly organized the structure and terms of a somewhat complicated transaction. He recommended an experienced restaurant attorney who has been excellent, and in less than one week of signing a listing agreement, I had a solid offer from a very reputable restaurant group. Together with his partner Barry Bielat, Richard expertly managed any issues that came up through the negotiation process and the deal was consummated very smoothly and easily.
Mr. Santore is organized, committed and hardworking. He knows the restaurant market inside and out and has unlimited contacts throughout the industry. His experience in buying and selling restaurants is unmatched; he really is a “deal maker” from beginning to end. Mr. Santore and his firm, Bielat Santore and Company are simply the best; there is no one is even close! Bielat Santore & Company is a professional real estate organization that has been selling restaurants for 40+ years. They dominate their market and have absolutely earned their place as the leader in their field.
Anyone looking to buy or sell a restaurant in New Jersey should only consider Bielat, Santore & Company. After 40 years in the restaurant business, I consider choosing Bielat, Santore & Company one of the best business decisions of my entire career. I cannot recommend them highly enough and now consider myself fortunate to call Richard a friend and confidante.
In 2020 when I sold Rod’s I was quoted as saying: “I still have another restaurant to run, Frankie’s in Point Pleasant Beach.” Who knows in a year or two down the road, I may give Bielat Santore & Company another crack at selling this one for me? Well, that proclamation came to fruition in 2021. I handed over the keys to Frankie’s and have officially retired, after Bielat Santore & Company sold Frankie’s in Point Pleasant Beach.”
“As a lifelong resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey, I chose Bielat Santore & Company to broker the sale of my business and building when it became time to sell. I knew of the firm and their reputation for years. It was essential that I kept the sale private since I was still operating a business. The company was extremely proficient and discreet in their marketing efforts. They produced a qualified cash buyer to purchase the business and the building within the first few months of signing the listing. The firm managed every aspect of the deal – start to finish. They did exactly what they said they were going to do, concluding with a closing that was as seamless as possible. I was so satisfied with the professionalism and expertise of Bielat Santore & Company that I started working for the firm a few months after the closing.”
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Robert Gills and his firm Bielat Santore & Company for the exceptional job that they did facilitating the sale of two bowling alley properties our real estate group owned in Burlington and Glassboro, New Jersey. We had owned these properties for many years. For some time, we had been trying to sell the properties as bowling alleys. However, the bowling industry was in decline and our properties were in need of updating. Bob Gillis had a different approach. While we were thinking bowling, Bob was thinking automobile. He was able to sell the Burlington property to an entrepreneur who is transforming the facility into a “Valet Auto Wash” and the Gloucester property to a neighboring automobile dealership who will use the property to expand his business. It was Mr. Gillis and his firm’s “out-of-the-box” thinking that made it all happen.”
“As a bank president, I do not normally write testimonials about real estate brokers. However, I am making an exception to commend Robert Gillis and Bielat Santore & Company for selling one of our bank ‘OREO’ properties. We had taken-back a diner property located on Route 130 in Burlington Township. When we considered engaging a broker to sell the property, Mr. Gillis, who is sometimes identified by his alias ‘Diner Bob,’ said he was the man for the job. He was. My thanks to ‘Diner Bob’ and to Bielat Santore & Company for a job well done.”
“I just sold my restaurant with the help of salesman, David Alvarez. It was a great experience working with David and Bielat Santore & Company. He was always available to talk, meet up or show the place. Throughout the whole process he was very professional, trustworthy and knew exactly what he was talking about and how to handle different situations that came up.”
“I recently had an opportunity to work with Richard Santore of Bielat Santore & Company on our real estate and accompanying liquor license acquisition. Mr. Santore represented the Seller in the transaction as a true professional, and as a result the parties worked in an open, responsive and coordinated manner to get the deal closed on an expedited basis to everyone’s mutual satisfaction. I look forward to working again with Richard and his firm on future opportunities as they may arise and would easily recommend him to other potential clients.”
“I found David A. Alvarez from Bielat Santore & Company to be extremely knowledgeable and efficient in all aspects of the transaction. I met David after two years of looking for the perfect restaurant for us. The first question I asked was: ‘What makes you so different from other brokers?’ His answer was: ‘There are other brokers out there, but then there is David, which I believe makes this company so special.’
David is very genuine, hardworking, and passionate about the restaurant business. Having previously owned three restaurants himself, makes him the best support one can have when selling or buying a restaurant. He is very experienced.
Thank you David A. Alvarez and your company for making us proud owners of the legendary steakhouse.”
“David A. Alvarez was instrumental to me in becoming a restaurant owner. I worked in a restaurant group for twenty years before I met David. He listened closely to what I was looking for and made the process of buying a restaurant simple and easy. Thanks to David and Bielat Santore & Company, today I own the very popular Tony’s Pizza Pasta Grill in Clifton, NJ.”
“It was always our dream to open our own restaurant and luckily the property we decided to purchase was being sold by Bielat & Santore & Company, Allenhurst, New Jersey. It was a bank owned foreclosure, so it was no ordinary commercial transaction. Richard Santore, a partner in Bielat Santore & Company, not only walked us through the entire process, he also helped get us a very fair price, making it a deal we could not refuse.
But that was just the beginning; since we were first time restaurant owners purchasing a foreclosed bank own property, securing a loan for a startup was proving to be impossible. When an initial lender failed to provide financing four months into the process, we thought the deal was dead. Not Richard! He refused to give up and somehow found another lender willing to take a chance on two women starting up a new business with no previous restaurant ownership.
THEN, when the appraisal came in inappropriately low. Richard and his partner Barry Bielat spent an entire day refuting the appraisal and providing market data that correctly contradicted the errors and miscalculations of the appraiser. After reviewing their report, the lender agreed to move forward and fund the loan.
Richard was with us step by step throughout the entire process; even helping us find a reputable attorney familiar with real estate and liquor license transactions and a quality insurance agent. He never once questioned our passion or decision to leap into the restaurant business. He simply dedicated himself to help us and make it happen! We will only use Bielat & Santore & Company for our next commercial real estate transaction!”
“After building a successful business for 19 years we began thinking about selling our business and retiring. We knew just who to call to handle the confidential undertaking of marketing our business for sale; Barry Bielat of Bielat Santore & Company.
It was important to us to find a buyer that would value and retain the professional staff we had in place. We were also very concerned about confidentiality and keeping the sale as private as possible. We are happy to say that our initial notion of hiring Bielat Santore & Company was the right choice. The firm met all of our expectations and sold our business. In fact, during the transition of ownership, the business has not skipped a beat and all the management is still place.
We are now happily retired and owe a great deal of our peace of mind to Bielat Santore & Company and the exceptional job they did.”
“After over 50 years in the restaurant business, I made a very emotional decision to sell my last restaurant business. I also made a very wise decision to hire Bielat Santore & Company to sell it for me. They told me when they first met me that if I listed with them they would sell my restaurant. They performed as advertised.
Not only so, but I was guided every step of the way by Richard Santore’s knowledge, expertise and ability to manage the entire transaction. His firm not only produced a qualified buyer; they also controlled all aspects of the sale with absolute professionalism. I may have sold of my last restaurant but I gained a friend in Mr. Santore, whose firm I would highly recommend.”
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Santore and his firm Bielat Santore & Company for the outstanding job that they did facilitating the sale of the Shadowbrook Estate. Mr. Santore’s guidance, knowledge and expertise made the entire transaction as trouble free as possible.
After 43 years as owner of the Shadowbrook, selling was quite an emotional experience. However, his advice and caring manner helped me get me through it all. I always felt that I was well taken care of.
Thanks again.”
“When I originally purchased Charley’s in Long Branch, New Jersey, I was very impressed with the professionalism and competency of Richard Santore of Bielat Santore and Company. The sale went smoothly with no surprises. In the end, I purchased “exactly” what I thought I would get. So I knew that when it came time to sell, Rich would be the best person to represent my interests.
It was not until after I asked Richard to assist me with the sale of Charley’s that I truly recognized the ” Tremendous Value” that he brings to the process. His industry and market expertise are without equal. He knows how to navigate the treacherous waters of constructing a deal in a difficult economy. He knows “All the Angles” and has a “Top Notch” organization to support his every move. Bottom line: Richard Santore is in command of the entire process start to finish and knows how to get the job done.
So if character, integrity, and honesty are important to you and you are considering the purchase or sale of a property in the hospitality industry, the only call you should make is to Richard Santore of Bielat Santore and Company.”
“As an attorney with 25 years of practice under my belt and dozens of businesses bought and sold, I had not used a broker in a buy or a sell due to my skepticism of their value. I hired Mr. Santore to sell a restaurant at the Jersey Shore just after Sandy and immediately was glad I did. Almost overnight he began to bring us serious offers. Notwithstanding the devastation from Sandy the offer we accepted was for full, pre-storm value. He worked tirelessly during the difficult negotiation process and once we were in contract he seemed to work even harder. Buyer was using SBA funding and had a complex and lengthy checklist to satisfy before closing. During the six month period between contract and closing I spoke with him nearly every day and sometimes several times a day. He acted as a liaison between the attorneys, between the bank and my accountants and even between the buyers and the ABC. Looking back I can recall several transactions where his presence would have saved me headaches and in one case litigation. He was the cool and collected voice of reason in this transaction and going forward I can’t imagine doing a deal without him.”
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to Bielat Santore & Company for their assistance in purchasing my first restaurant, Il Lago. From the day I first met, NJ Licensed Real Estate Salesman, Joseph Denker, I knew I was in good hands. He went above and beyond (The Extra Mile!) on multiple occasions and kept me calm and focused and overcame a few inherent obstacles, which surfaced as the process unfolded. I strongly recommend Bielat Santore & Company as your first choice in selecting a broker, whether you are buying or selling a restaurant.”
We would like to thank Bielat Santore & Company for their outstanding service over the last several months in aiding us to sell our restaurant. We could not have found a more professional real estate organization than Bielat Santore. We are so appreciative of how dedicated they were in helping us find the right buyer. They consistently advocated for us whether it was with the prospective buyers or with the landlord. They always remained optimistic even when we were somewhat discouraged. As the company was highly recommended to us, we would be more than pleased to refer them to any prospective client. Again, thank you for everything!”
“I have been in business for 38 years, from the commercial tire business to a multi-unit restaurant chain in New Jersey, one of the most competitive market places in the country. During those years I have sold and purchased 7 different commercial businesses and without exception Bielat Santore & Company is the most professional commercial real estate and business broker I have ever had the pleasure of conducting business together.
Most business brokers talk about and promise professional full-service commercial real estate services when they ask to list or find a business. Bielat Santore & Company invented it. They are the gold standard in which all others in their industry are measured against. They perform every aspect a broker should provide, from determining a “real” fair market value for the business, to providing access to financial resources most others have no knowledge of, to dealing with the complicated liquor laws and license transfers of NJ ABC regulations, to dealing with troublesome accountants and lawyers in order to make sure you get the best value for your money whether buying or selling a business. They are the turn-key solution when buying or selling a business. I view them more as a business partner than a business broker over the 25 years of doing business with them.
I very seldom give letters of recommendation to vendors or companies that I conduct business with, as I do not like to share the secrets of my success which allowed me to be the success I am today. However some secrets should not be kept from the world and this is one of them.”
“Although I had worked with Richard Santore in the past, we recently completed our first restaurant purchase through Bielat Santore & Company. It turned out to be a very wise decision on our part. The firm handled all the proceedings with the highest level of professionalism, service and competency. I am convinced that it was chiefly due to their efforts that we made it to the closing table. They were instrumental in the entire purchasing process, from offer to closing. Although this may have been the first restaurant I purchased through Bielat Santore & Company, it certainly won’t be the last. I will look to Richard and his firm for all of our buying and selling needs in the future.”
“In our search to find the perfect business opportunity in the restaurant industry we were introduced to Bielat Santore & Company. I am glad we were introduced to one of the most experienced groups in New Jersey to help us succeed. Our search was extensive and spanned more than a two year period. The level of thoroughness and detail from Bielat Santore & Company was unmatched. We were provided insight into potential opportunities that gave us confidence to say no to many deals that were not right for our objectives. Once Richard Santore found the right opportunity for us, we locked in and made the deal happen. After the offer was accepted the hard work kicked in. Bielat Santore & Company provided an end to end service which kept seller and buyer on track to get the deal across the finish line. It is not a deal until you are at the closing table and they did a great job delivering. We look forward to working with Bielat Santore & Company again in the near future.”
“Bielat Santore & Company has sold two substantial restaurant properties for me. Their experience and knowledge of the restaurant industry far surpasses the average real estate agency. They cared for the entire transaction from finding qualified buyers to closing the sale. Bielat Santore & Company sold both restaurants with the strictest confidentiality, so much so that my staff and customers did not know I was selling until I announced it to them a couple of weeks prior to closing. The firm’s expertise was instrumental in meeting all of my expectations and selling requirements. I could not be happier with the level of professional service rendered and would highly recommend Bielat Santore & Company to anyone looking to sell or purchase a commercial business and/or real estate property.”
“I recently purchased a restaurant through Bielat Santore & Company. The services rendered by the firm were exceptional. They guided me through the entire purchasing process, from offer to closing. Their competence goes far beyond that of the typical real estate office. The firm was instrumental in contract negotiations and preparation, in processing of the liquor license application and in working through the many obstacles that occur in a sizeable real estate transaction. They even placed the financing for me to facilitate a closing. If you are looking to buy or sell a restaurant or any other property within the hospitality industry, I highly recommend engaging the services of Bielat Santore & Company.”
“Bielat Santore & Company came highly recommended by my father-in-law who was a banker. He had conducted business with the company for many years. When we decided to open our first restaurant we sought out the services of Bielat Santore & Company. They did such a good job locating, negotiating and finalizing that transaction, that we have purchased all of our restaurants from them. Seven in total! The firm is very professional at what they do. Their knowledge of the restaurant industry coupled with their ability to facilitate a real estate sale, lease or exchange and bring financing to the table through institutional lenders and private investors puts Bielat Santore & Company head and shoulders above the average real estate agency. We will continue to engage their services and recommend the firm to others within the hospitality industry.”
“We want to thank Bielat Santore & Company for selling our restaurant. We had it listed previously with another broker where it spent a year on the market without being sold. Bielat Santore & Company told us up front that they could sell it; and they did! The firm understood our needs as a seller and their team of professionals made the entire process go smoothly. They handled all facets of the sale in order for the closing to happen as quickly as possible. It was a pleasure working with Bielat Santore & Company on the sale of our restaurant.”
“I was in the restaurant and bar business for 45 years, 30 of those as owner and operator of the Adriatic Restaurant in Asbury Park, NJ. Over the years real estate agents came knocking on my door telling me they had a buyer for my restaurant. In the early years I was not interested in selling. However, toward the end of my career I entertained these solicitations. Not a single one delivered. That’s when I contacted Bielat Santore & Company who had been selling restaurants for almost as long as I had been running them. They told me they would get the place sold. I believed them and engaged their services. Six months later I was sitting at a closing table. They did what they said they would do. Take my advice; if you are looking to buy or sell a restaurant or bar, don’t waste your time with tire-kickers; call Bielat Santore & Company. They get things done!”
“Bielat Santore & Company exceeded our expectations as the commercial real estate firm that sold us our restaurant. Their expertise and knowledge of the restaurant industry far surpasses the average real estate agency and was instrumental in our decision making process. Bielat Santore & Company not only located the right business for us, they assisted in the offer and contract stages, processed our liquor license application, secured financing to facilitate the transaction and worked with a team of professionals to close the deal. We could not be happier with the level of professional service rendered and would highly recommend Bielat Santore & Company to anyone looking to purchase a commercial business and/or real estate property.”
“Owning and operating a restaurant business is a very time intensive endeavor. That is why when I decided to purchase a second restaurant I contacted Bielat Santore & Company. Their team of professionals not only did the leg work of finding and filtering locations for me, they managed the entire transaction. The firm directed me to the right team of professionals and coordinated those professionals with the tasks required to close the deal. Bielat Santore & Company did what they do best; buy and sell restaurants, allowing me to do what I do best; run my restaurants. I highly recommend the firm to anyone who is entertaining buying or selling a restaurant.”
I first retained the services of Bielat Santore & Company in 1998 when I listed my restaurant and bar in Point Pleasant with them. They did what they said they would do. They found a qualified buyer, kept the sale process confidential and sold my restaurant. So a couple of years later I decided to give them another try. This time I asked if they could sell a commercial building I owned, a bit out of their comfort zone, that being the sale of restaurants. They sold it!
And then finally when I decided to sell an entire ocean block of retail stores and residential apartments I owned in Belmar, I called Bielat Santore & Company once more. I trusted the firm with the largest real estate asset I owned. Within sixty days I had an offer and within six months the deal was closed.
I realize the firm is principally active in the sale of restaurant real estate. However, I’ve seen them list and sell everything from a neighborhood bar to an 18-hole Golf Course and Country Club. I have no problem saying that if you have a commercial property you want to buy or sell, call the brokers at Bielat Santore & Company. It’s a done deal!