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Local property developer celebrates 50 years

When Stephen Sperling, president of Aerarium Group, bought 23 acres of land from the City of Barrie in 1971, little did he know the impact that he would make in the city that he has grown to love
Aerarium Group Spotlight image80 Bradford
Aerarium Group's innovative building on 80 Bradford Street is an “incubator for business” that offers suites of all sizes. This is an affordable option that can accommodate start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses and non-profit organizations (supplied photo)

When Stephen Sperling, president of Aerarium Group, bought 23 acres of land from the City of Barrie in 1971, little did he know the impact that he would make in the city that he has grown to love. 50 years later, the Aerarium Group is Barrie’s largest property developer and Stephen is an active leader in the community.  

Outstanding Employees a Key to Success

Stephen attributes the success of Aerarium Group on a few factors, including their exceptional staff. “I think one of the prime reasons we have been successful is the quality and loyalty of our employees. We're one of the few companies where people very rarely leave,” he says. “Our oldest employee has been with us over 40 years.” 

Flexible Tenant Relationships Make a Difference

Another contributing factor to their success lies in their ability to stay flexible. “Our motto is ‘We want you to succeed.’ We will sit down and talk to our tenants to see what their needs are,” explains Stephen. “We've had tenants that have actually needed more space where we've arranged for them to acquire it from us and we've also had situations where tenants needed less space and we were flexible enough to either move them into smaller space or have their space cut down in size.”

Innovative Spaces

Developing creative properties, like their innovative building on 80 Bradford Street, allows them to offer their tenants many choices. Stephen describes this property as an “incubator for business” that offers suites of all sizes. This is an affordable option that can accommodate start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses and non-profit organizations. 

The Aerarium Group allows their tenants to invest in growing their businesses instead of tying up their funds in real estate. “Bricks and mortar don’t make their business. It is the expertise of the individual tenant and how they invest in their business, “says Stephen. 

Community-Minded Action

The impact that Stephen and the Aerarium Group have had on Barrie goes beyond property development. Stephen has raised his three daughters in the area and strives to support the community however he can. He has served as a president of the Kiwanis Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and Am Shalom Synagogue. For 5 years, Stephen has also personally transported pharmaceuticals to Cuba to help those in desperate need of life-saving medications. 

The Aerarium Group is proud to support a long list of local charitable organizations including Princess Margaret Hospital, Gildas Club, the Allendale Recreation Centre, and multiple local sports teams. 

Strong Plans Ahead

Though 50 years is a long time, the team at Aerarium Group are still going strong. They have expanded into Oro-Medonte, Toronto, Hamilton Stoney Creek, Orillia, Regina and Huntsville. 

“We’ve always got exciting challenges,” says Stephen. “This year, our plan is to build an extension to one building, build another large freestanding building of 75,000 square feet and next year we have plans to build an additional 70,000 square foot building.” 

For more information about the Aerarium Group’s current and future projects, visit their website at www.aerariumgroup.com or call them at (705) 726-7130.