COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 6512

Operators of Non-Residential Buildings

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

17companies1844–1992founding years17still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedThe Molson Companies Limited
1844
FoundedCalMat Co.
1891
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedK & B Inc.
1905
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedCommonwealth Energy System
1926
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedVornado Realty Trust
1936
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedThe Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation
1944
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCheung Kong (Holdings) Limited
1950
FoundedTatung Co.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedDart Group Corporation
1960
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedIngles Markets, Inc.
1963
FoundedAssociated Estates Realty Corporation
1964
FoundedComcast Corporation
1969
FoundedBoston Properties, Inc.
1970
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedGIB Group
1974
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedGreat American Management and Investment, Inc.FoundedRodamco N.V.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedCapStar Hotel Company
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

The Molson Companies Limited →
Active · founded 1844 · Canada
Established in 1786, The Molson Companies Limited is perhaps best known for its brewery, which is the oldest in North…
CalMat Co. →
Active · founded 1891
CalMat Co.
K & B Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
K & B Inc.
Commonwealth Energy System →
Active · founded 1926
Commonwealth Energy System (COM/Energy) is a public utility holding company with four subsidiaries operating in…
Vornado Realty Trust →
Active · founded 1936
Vornado Realty Trust is a real-estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, leases, develops, and manages real-estate…
The Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation →
Active · founded 1944
The Edward J.
Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited →
Active · founded 1950 · Hong Kong
Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited is among Hong Kong's leading property and investment development companies.
Tatung Co. →
Active · founded 1957 · Taiwan
With ten domestic plants and nearly 20,000 employees, Tatung Co.
Dart Group Corporation →
Active · founded 1960
Dart Group Corporation, a pioneer in discount marketing and in the concept of "superstores," is a holding company for…
Ingles Markets, Inc. →
Active · founded 1963
Ingles Markets, Inc.
Associated Estates Realty Corporation →
Active · founded 1964
For the first 30 years, Associated Estates Realty Corporation was a family-owned business that built, managed, and…
Comcast Corporation →
Active · founded 1969
Comcast Corporation is a leading cable, telecommunications, and entertainment firm.
Boston Properties, Inc. →
Active · founded 1970
The media empire of Mortimer B.
GIB Group →
Active · founded 1974 · Belgium
GIB Group, Belgium's top retailer, is active in four sectors: supermarkets and hypermarkets; do-it-yourself (DIY) home…
Great American Management and Investment, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
A cursory look at Great American Management and Investment, Inc.
Rodamco N.V. →
Active · founded 1979 · The Netherlands
Rodamco N.V.
CapStar Hotel Company →
Active · founded 1992
CapStar Hotel Company owns and manages hotels in the upscale end of the lodging market, including such familiar names…
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