Kinneret Group "Facilitating your next move"
Whether it's a new lease renewal, reallocation or expansion, Kinneret Group acts as a partner, implementing creative solutions that align each client's commercial real estate needs with business strategy, financial goals, and operational objectives.
About Us
meet our co-founders
Current Responsibilities:
Ethan Ambalu is the Managing Director of Kinneret Group's New York City office. He oversees the firm’s consulting and advisory services team, which focuses on tenant representation in the New York Tri-state area. Ethan provides his clients with a wide array of full-service commercial real estate counsel ranging from real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and marketing, to lease negotiation and strategic space planning. Ethan has been hailed as an expert in the commercial real estate leasing community and continues to develop innovative strategies for both landlords and tenants.
Experience:
While in high school Ethan Ambalu began his career in Real Estate, managing multi-family and mixed-use properties in Queens and Brooklyn. At the age of 19, Ethan joined Norman Bobrow & Co. as the youngest agent in the firms 40-year history. In his first year, Ethan was one of the firms largest producers and began to make a real name for himself in the industry. Ethan and his partner Ben Srour founded Kinneret Group in 2015 and are the youngest owners of a commercial real estate firm in New York City.
The firm currently represents and manages over one million square feet of residential and commercial real estate in New York and Israel. Throughout his career, Ethan has specialized in Grand Central and the Plaza District where he has developed a wide-roster of prestigious clients, particularly as they pertain to the growth needs of non-profit organizations and financial services firms. Ethan's clients include Women's World Banking, Global Citizen, QSAC, HSI, Semper Capital Management, and Patina Restaurant Group.
Education and Affiliations:
Ethan is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). He is a co-founder of the youngest privately owned commercial leasing brokerage in NYC. Born and raised in Queens, Ethan attended Baruch College and majored in Real Estate Development and is actively involved in many charitable organizations including FIDF, Yad Eliezer, BBBS of America, and the Queens BJCC. In the Spring, Ethan coaches little league baseball and serves on his community youth-development board.
Ethan Ambalu
Managing Director
Current Responsibilities:
Benny Srour is an Executive Director who co-leads Kinneret Group's commercial real estate team in New York City. He represents owners and investors in developing and executing leasing strategies to maximize commercial properties' full potential. Mr. Srour has strong knowledge of marketing, development, and management to better assist clients in achieving their overall asset and corporate goals. His experience in agency leasing and tenant representation has enabled him to develop and maintain strong relationships with owners and tenants alike.
Experience:
Prior to Kinneret Group, Mr. Srour worked as commercial leasing specialist at Norman Bobrow & Company. Mr. Srour combined his intellectual capital, construction, architecture and market knowledge to add value to each of his client's projects allowing him to complete over $200 million in aggregate rentals over his career. His innovative approach has resulted in success for his clients and accolades from his peers.
Education and Affiliations:
Mr. Srour is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY). He won 2011 Rookie of the year for his stellar work in the business, which included the quickest to a completed lease transaction-- just 2 weeks in. He is a co-founder of the youngest privately owned commercial leasing brokerage in the Tri-State. Mr. Srour is a Zicklin School of Business Alumni and is actively involved in many charity organizations including Kupat Ha'ir, FIDF, SBH, ATIME and Ahavat Chinam.
Benny Srour
Executive Director
What Sets Us Apart
Exclusive Tenant Representation
Leveraged Negotiations
Cutting Edge Market Analytics
Marketing TRend Expertise
Extensive Rolodex of Landlords/Tenants
Direct-to-Tenant Marketing
On-Site Construction Advisory
Services
Relocation
Sublease
Real Estate Consulting
Renewal
Case Studies
Community Federal Savings Bank/Railworks
5 Penn Plaza
11,886 Square Feet
Community Federal Savings Bank had been in a 5,000 SF office at SL Green’s 810 Seventh Avenue, which was filled to max capacity. CFSB had an immediate need for growth and no means of filling that need at their building. KGCRE was tasked with locating a larger office that was both beautiful and cost-effective, which led us to the sublease from Railworks at 5 Penn Plaza. The space was fully furnished, wired, and was in pristine condition since it had only been occupied for a matter of months. The deal closed $25.00 per square foot below the market rate, which saved CFSB approximately $2.7 million over the course of their lease term.
Imagineer Technology Group / Lacoste
551 Madison Avenue
8,300 Square Feet
Imagineer Technology Group develops high-level interactive software for clients in the financial services world such as hedge funds, private equity firms, consultants, and more. ITG was looking to expand their NYC footprint, but the due to a 50% rent increase in Midtown South, it became impossible to stay in that submarket. KGCRE needed to find an equitable solution to increase their footprint without a major rent hike. After careful analysis of their business, we advised ITG to relocate their operation to the Plaza District, which we highlighted as a more natural fit given the close proximity to their clientele. KGCRE secured a full floor sublease from Lacoste at 551 Madison Avenue to achieve a deal 35% below-market.
Makovsky & Co.
228 East 45th Street
11,600 Square Feet
Makovsky & Co. was preparing to renew their lease at 16 East 34th Street and retain their 22,500 square footprint. After careful analysis of their lease and current configuration needs, KGCRE determined that the best solution was to take advantage of the declining market and relocate Makovsky & Co. After several rounds of negotiation, KGCRE secured them a deal $15 per square foot below-market along with a new modern installation conducive to their new needs and consistent with their high-end client roster.
Maritime Capital/Playboy
555 Fifth Avenue
6,031 Square Feet
Maritime Capital was coming up on their lease expiration at ESRT’s One Grand Central Place. With an interest in an upgrade and a desire to remain in close proximity of Grand Central Terminal, KGCRE was retained to seek out a Turn-Key solution. KGCRE secured the Playboy sublease at Atco’s 555 Fifth Avenue, which was in pristine condition having only been occupied for a year prior to Playboy vacating. In addition to hitting the mark on location and installation, KGCRE secured the deal at over $15.00 below the market rate
Royal Heritage Homes
45 West 36th Street
10,500 Square Feet
Royal Heritage Homes had its headquarters at the Feil Organizations 261 Fifth Avenue and was looking to double its footprint. Due to the shift in the NYC market, the building had geared itself towards TAMI users and as a result, the rents skyrocketed. After negotiating on several buildings, KGCRE was able to secure one full floor at Samco Properties’ 45 West 36th Street and provide a deal for RHH nearly 30% below-market featuring an incredibly high-end glass showroom installation provided by the landlord.
Tahari Arthur S. Levine
525 Seventh Avenue
17,675 Square Feet
Tahari Arthur S. Levine had their headquarters in the Grace Building and were in need of expansion space. The natural inclination was to expand at their current location, but the occupancy cost was exuberantly high and we were determined to offer a more cost-effective solution. After negotiating on several buildings, KGCRE was able to locate an expansion solution nearby at 525 Seventh Avenue. The space, a turn-key showroom sublease from NYC Alliance, was a perfect fit and reduced their occupancy cost by 65% from their quoted rate at the Grace Building.
Tempositions / Monster Inc.
622 Third Avenue
31,997 Square Feet
With an impending lease expiration at SL Greens 420 Lexington Avenue, Tempositions was facing challenging market conditions as they began their search for a new home. At that point, there were no available spaces in the Grand Central submarket that fit their needs. With limited time, KGCRE produced a creative solution in finding them an advantageous sublease from Monster Inc., on the 39th floor of 622 Third Avenue. The space was delivered fully furnished and wired, and the deal was closed at a rate nearly 60% Below-market, saving the tenant millions over the entirety of the lease.
Venture Capital Properties
461 Fifth Avenue
11,232 Square Feet
VCP had grown at a rapid pace over the years and was now spread over 4 floors at 384 Fifth Avenue. A careful analysis of their current footprint had shed light on the dollars being lost on “lost space” due to the high loss factor on each of their floors. KGCRE was able to capture that lost space and more, by securing a deal for one full floor from US Savings Bank at 461 Fifth Avenue at a rental rate nearly 50% below-market.
Women's World Banking
122 East 42nd Street (Chanin Building)
8,373 Square Feet
Women's World Banking occupied two floors overlooking Bryant Park at 8 West 40th Street. With the average rents hovering above $60 per square foot, KGCRE needed to come up with an economical solution that fit WWB’s real estate needs without compromising the company's culture, space versatility, and exterior views. Along with WWB's real estate team, we were able
to relocate them to the 42nd floor of the Chanin Building and secured a long-term deal with a major cash contribution and free-rent package provided by the landlord.
