By Jennifer Showalter

From an outside glance, Ehman and Greenstreet looks like an average store front with a sign, cars parked in the lot and a well-kept lawn. Its average appearance ends upon stepping through the main door. Clark Brown, owner of Ehman and Greenstreet, employs his sister and his nephew, Jack Brown. Ehman and Greenstreet is the definition of a family business.

Fred Greenstreet founded Ehman and Greenstreet in 1922. He was a preacher when he started his real estate business. He was known in the community for having a big heart. “When the Depression hit everyone hard, he took money out of his own life insurance policy to help his neighbors in need. It was just the type of person he was,” explains Clark.

Clark is the fourth generation owner and his nephew, Jack, will be the next owner upon Clark’s retirement. Clark has been around the real estate business his whole life.“When I was a kid I would walk around with my dad and put up open house signs in the neighborhood,” remembers Clark. He goes on to say, “It’s in my blood. I was born and raised around it.”

Clark helped with the business when he was younger but then left the area in his early twenties and moved to Florida. Life was going well there but when his father passed in 1984. Clark came home to take over of Ehman and Greenstreet.

There is so much available real estate it can be a daunting task to sift through all of it to find a perfect match for a prospective buyer or renter. Clark and his team help people figure out and find what they need and what they are looking for. They sell and rent properties. They also have insurance agents who work for them to help with any of their clients’ insurance needs. Offering insurance was added to the company in the late 1920s, it was not an original part of the business plan.

The company has had to adjust to the current economic environment like many other businesses. In addition to their real estate and insurance sales, they are also working with banks to try and help as many people as possible keep their homes. With the declining value of homes many owners are fearful they will lose money if they try to sell their house. Clark and his team work with banks to renegotiate loans terms on a case-by-case basis. “We want to help as many people as we can. Part of the reason we stay a small company is so that we can focus on our clients and accomplish the things we want to,” says Clark.

“Every generation of my family has been very involved in the well-being of the community, including myself and current staff. For example, my grandfather and great-grandfather negotiated with farmers to obtain the land used to create the Willow Run Factory for Henry Ford.” His family has also been involved in the sale of land for the Eastern Michigan University stadium and the new Toyota assembly plant. Today, Clark and his employees volunteer at summer festivals and participate in several fundraising events. His company is totally immersed in the community which punctuates the friendly atmosphere that every client experiences.

Ehman & Greenstreet
Clark Brown
1947 Whittaker Road
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Phone: 734-482-3484
Email: clarkbrown@provide.net