History of Broadway Real Estate
The firm of Broadway Real Estate all started with a newspaper ad that read “If you like houses, come and see us”. LaVonne Kloida, founder of Broadway Real Estate did like houses so she applied not sure what the job entailed. As it turned out Ryan Real Estate was looking for a new sales agent. The idea of selling houses or “problem solving” as LaVonne puts it; appealed to her so she enrolled in a real estate course in Traverse City. She passed her licensing exam on the first try and spent 5 years with Ryan Real Estate acquiring the job skills on the way. At a time when women were just beginning to break into the real estate business and as the first woman salesperson in the office she found herself being handed the small sales with low commissions. LaVonne said the result was the discovery that these small sales are the key to success. An agent has to treat a low end buyer the same as the buyer of a big home, she always says “They’ll be back for another one”. LaVonne enjoyed the business and believed it is important to understand that being a Realtor is more than just having a license. She liked to see what people needed and to help them obtain it. She felt great knowing that she was making a difference.
In January, 1976 LaVonne decided it was time to go out on her own. She bought the former Everard Drug Store building on the corner of 13th Street and 16th Avenue in Menominee and in tribute to 13th Street former name she opened “Broadway” Real Estate. LaVonne wasn’t sure how she would fare being out on her own as a “women” owned real estate company, so she brought her sewing machine to work and set it up in the back room, thinking that she could stitch away when things got slow. After the first week she did not sew a stitch. And as they say the rest is history…
In 1986 Karen Kloida (LaVonne’s daughter) followed in her mother’s footsteps obtaining her license and earning her broker’s license quickly. At that time Broadway Real Estate only sold real estate on the Michigan side of the “River”. Realizing they were unable to meet all of their customer’s needs; in 1995 Karen Kloida opened Broadway Real Estate of WI Inc. on Main Street in Marinette. A perfect compliment to her mother’s business. The two have worked well together for many years. Karen and LaVonne are both self-driven, customer service focused women. Their business philosophy is simple. “Commissions aren’t what’s important; solving people’s problems and meeting their real estate needs is”.
In 2005 LaVonne decided to “semi”-retire and sold Broadway Real Estate to her daughter Karen; the current Owner/Broker. Today Broadway Real Estate and Broadway Real Estate of WI Inc are both operated out of the original building on 13th Street in Menominee. The firm currently has 18 agents and is consistently one of the top real estate companies in the area.
The business has changed a great deal since LaVonne sold her first house almost 40 years ago. But Broadway Real Estate continues to offer the same great customer service. As LaVonne and Karen say “it’s the same location, same name, same hometown service” that can’t be beat.