Julius A. Rose Insurance Agency

About

We pride ourselves on getting our clients the best rate possible through the long term relationships we’ve cultivated with highly rated insurance companies

Story

The Story Behind the Legacy

In 1886, Julius A. Rose, founder of the Real Estate and Insurance firm bearing his name, Julius A. Rose, Inc., arrived in the United States from Lithuania. Only a teenager when he reached Bayonne, he supported himself by selling newspapers and magazines from his newsstand on the Northeast corner of 34th Street and Avenue C. In 1902, after finally earning enough money from his newsstand, Mr. Rose was able to open a Real Estate and Insurance office in a storefront at 26th Street and Avenue C.

After a steady decade of large accounts and lucrative contracts, Mr. Rose was able to create a mortgage brokerage business that was funded through bank loans and money from his own personal accounts. Through this business, Julius was able to take advantage of the building boom that was occurring throughout the early 1900’s. To complete the package, he would write the casualty insurance during the construction phase for builders and arranged for permanent mortgages when the buildings were completed.

The business prospered until 1933, when the Great Depression forced President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to close all of the banks. At that time, Julius’ operations stretched from Interlaken, New Jersey to Westwood in Bergen County and included projects ranging from one family homes to 70 unit apartment buildings. Due to banks and mortgage companies no longer being able to grant permanent mortgages, Mr. Rose had the choice of foreclosing his construction loans, dropping the acquired properties altogether or completing the unfinished buildings in an attempt to hold onto as many properties as possible. Having faith in his adopted country and optimism about the future, Mr. Rose became a general contractor and sold the buildings after completing them.

As the country came out of the Depression, Julius A. Rose, Inc. expanded its staff and soon after outgrew the office space at 510 Broadway. A two-story building was built at 564 Broadway where the company shared the first floor with Posner’s clothing store and rented the second floor to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Julius Rose remained active in the business until his death in 1947. In 1956, Julius A. Rose, Inc. outgrew its 564 Broadway office and moved into 611 Broadway where it remained for 60 years. At present, The Julius A. Rose, Inc. offices for Insurance and Real Estate are in the new construction building at 194 Broadway between Dodge and 7th Street.