From humble beginnings sorting mail at a DC law firm for $12 an hour, Jared found his passion in real estate development after his grandmother noticed his habit of photographing buildings. His timing proved fortuitous—entering the market during the 2007 recession allowed him to learn valuable lessons managing troubled properties while others fled the industry. Starting with house flips in up-and-coming neighborhoods, he gradually scaled to larger projects, eventually securing backing from a New York hedge fund.
After a whirlwind career and personal changes, Jared took two years to travel the world, volunteering for disaster recovery in Puerto Rico and exploring cultures across continents. These experiences gave him fresh perspectives on architecture and community spaces that would later influence his development philosophy when he returned to his native Ohio in 2021.
His latest triumph is the transformation of three adjacent buildings in downtown Delaware, Ohio—formerly the county health department—into mixed-use spaces including retail, a Venezuelan restaurant, co-working offices, and the latest project: the Leisure Club Lounge. This nostalgic basement bar features a blend of 70s-90s memorabilia, creating an atmosphere that feels like "your dad's basement or your granddad's garage."
The project wasn't without challenges. Post-COVID financing for office space conversions required approaching multiple lenders with detailed business plans. The basement space itself needed extensive work before potential tenants could see its possibilities. But Jared's persistence paid off when the Leisure Club opened to overwhelming positive response during Delaware's First Friday event.

Guest Links:
Website: https://www.leisureclub.co/

Main Street Reimagined:
Facebook: facebook.com/MainStreetReimagined
The Main Street Reimagined Podcast, Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqfkmF5bRH0od1d3iiYKs3oEn_gvMYk7N
Henry Development Group:
Facebook: facebook.com/henrydevelopmentgroup
Website: www.henrydevelopmentgroup.com
Developing News Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/33110524eb5c/developing-news
Luke Henry:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/luhenry
Facebook: facebook.com/luke.henry.148

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