Thriving through COVID-19
Mike Messinger had a vision, and he wanted to achieve it during the COVID-19 crisis. As the principal at real estate development firm Meacham/Oppenheimer, he wanted to restore a 150-year-old classic Spanish building in downtown San Jose’s San Pedro Square and transform it into a 12,000-square-foot blank canvas ideal for weddings and events.
An ambitious project? Absolutely. But getting it done during COVID-19 took it to a new level.
With many businesses closing and many more in jeopardy, Mike knew he would need a banking partner that would support the concept and enable him to execute through the devastation of the pandemic. Fortunately, he has a long-term relationship with Ron La Russa, a senior Commercial Relationship Manager at Fremont Bank, who did exactly that.
Having a relationship with a bank makes life and development and investments a lot easier. — Mike Messinger, Principal, Meacham/Oppenheimer
Listen to Fremont Bank’s Ron La Russa and Meachum/Oppenheimer’s Mike Messinger discuss this latest project in their 20-year partnership:
This unique facility, Blanco Urban Venue, stands strong in San Pedro Square. Mike has always valued his relationship with Fremont Bank but now sees its significance in a new way. No matter what problems cropped up, Mike knew he could rely on Fremont Bank to work through them with his best interests at heart.
[Fremont Bank] gave me the freedom to do the development the way I wanted to do it, believed in me and believed I could get the projects done. — Mike Messinger
“Having a relationship with a bank makes life and development and investments a lot easier. And the proof is in the pudding... [Fremont Bank has] always worked out a way to make it work,” Mike said. What could you achieve with a true banking partnership? Get to know us and let’s find out!
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