Timeline
1970s
Shortly after their marriage, Frank and Joyce Gelzer began a new type of partnership - purchasing apartments in Santa Monica, California. Frank worked as real estate attorney and CPA. Joyce worked in technical writing. A true mom and pop operation, Frank did the maintenance while Joyce managed and cleaned the apartments.
1978
Sensing rent control coming around the corner, Frank and Joyce liquidated their California holdings and moved back to Atlanta where Frank was from. From the proceeds, Frank and Joyce bought three apartment complexes and an office building in foreclosure.
1981
The Gelzers created the corporate entity for their real estate holdings. Frank read about Tucker Mobile Home Estates in the Wall Street Journal and bought it in foreclosure.
1984
Frank bought 213 acres off I-75 and Georgia 20. He operated it as a Christmas tree farm and driving range to cover property taxes. At the time, Frank aspired to be one of the largest Christmas Tree operators in Georgia; Joyce had other ideas.
1985 to 2014
Frank and Joyce breathed life back into a number of ailing properties including hotel, retail, multifamily, industrial, office, self-storage and senior housing assets. Upon touring one hotel in foreclosure, Frank said that he’d have to buy that building because no one would love it like he would. Frank spearheaded much of this expansion despite battling prostate cancer for over 14 years.
Dec 4, 2015
The family mourns as Frank Gelzer, patriarch to the family business, passes away. His son, John Gelzer, returns from service in the US Air Force in Korea to help Joyce run the business. The family decides to consolidate and sell off many legacy properties over the next few years.
2019
Matriarch Joyce is unexpectedly diagnosed with glioblastoma and no longer can perform day-to-day duties in the company. The family purchases two industrial flex buildings off Franklin Road and a single family home off Lake Forest next to Sandy Springs apartment complex at a distressed price.
July 13, 2020
More tragedy for the family as the matriarch, Joyce Gelzer, succumbs to her illness.
2020 and beyond
As the company and family mourns the loss of Frank and Joyce, son and CEO John Gelzer focuses on setting forth a bold vision for the future. JFG Ventures is poised for growth and is currently looking for new acquisitions to expand.