Nathan’s Famous broker ditches independent practice for Grubb & Ellis

Jeffrey Lichtenberg, a noted commercial broker whose clients have included the Trump Organization and Nathan’s Famous, has ended his 10-year run as an independent agent to join Grubb & Ellis as a vice chairman.

Lichtenberg announced the move yesterday, and told The Real Deal that he decided to join the firm to have the resources of a large company at hand.

“I was a little frustrated with not being able to do as much as I wanted to do as an independent consultant,” Lichtenberg said. “I wanted to get back to doing the big leasing deals that I used to do.”

Lichtenberg had previously worked with Insignia/ESG, which was acquired by CB Richard Ellis in 2003.

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Lichtenberg said that while he “had a couple of proposals from some very significant firms in New York,” he was drawn to Grubb & Ellis because he sees its presence growing in the city.

“Grubb & Ellis is looking to ramp up… [it] was better for me because they’re building [their company],” Lichtenberg said.

The firm announced a long-term nationwide expansion plan last year. In New York City, it opened a new office at 1177 Sixth Avenue near 46th Street last September to house its new commercial real estate appraisal arm.

Joseph Swingle, executive vice president and managing director of Grubb & Ellis’ New York-area offices, said that Lichtenberg’s “relationships with many of the industry’s key decision-makers” motivated the brokerage to pursue him.