A family business, built one brick at a time.
For more than sixty-five years, the Aerenson family has quietly shaped the commercial fabric of the Greater Delaware region — first as developers, then as long-term owners, and now as second- and third-generation stewards of a portfolio our tenants treat as home.
We approach every property as if we intend to own it for another fifty years — because, in most cases, we do. That long horizon shapes everything: how we underwrite a site, how we structure a lease, how we maintain a parking lot, how we answer the phone.
What we do
- Site selectionIdentifying and evaluating sites that match our long-term ownership thesis.
- AcquisitionDisciplined acquisition of retail and mixed-use property across the region.
- Site planningIn-house planning informed by decades of operating the same kind of asset.
- Architectural coordinationWorking alongside trusted architects on tenant-driven design.
- Approvals & entitlementsNavigating local and state processes with seasoned relationships.
- Financing & constructionStructuring capital and executing build-out with proven partners.
- LeasingCurating a complementary tenant mix that sustains above-market occupancy.
- Property managementHands-on management that keeps tenants — and their customers — happy.
"We've never been the loudest firm in the room — and that's been the point. Our tenants stay, and that's how we measure ourselves."
The people behind Rojan.
More than a century of combined experience across acquisition, development, leasing, and management — anchored by three generations of the Aerenson family.
Buddy Aerenson
FounderBuddy was born and raised in Wilmington. He attended Dickinson Law School and practiced real estate law and general business until 2020. In the late 1960s, Buddy took over Wilmington Real Estate and Finance Company. For more than 60 years, Buddy has led Rojan to become one of the leading developers in the region. He remains active today in land deals, negotiations, and tenant contracts.
Bob Aerenson
President & CEOBorn and raised in Delaware, Bob joined Rojan in 1984 and accelerated the company's expansion. He has built relationships with many tenants, including many of the area's Walgreens, Advance Autos, 7/11s, Starbucks, Family Dollars, and Sherwin-Williams among other well-known brands. Bob specializes in all aspects of the development process, including site selection, property acquisition, site planning, architectural coordination, governmental approvals, financing, and construction.
Whitney Pembroke
Senior Vice PresidentWhitney leads day-to-day strategic initiatives across Rojan's portfolio, working closely with tenants, brokers, and partners to grow the company's retail and mixed-use footprint across the region.
Andy Aerenson
Senior Vice PresidentAndy was a practicing attorney who was very involved with Rojan right up until his retirement. He is great at building relationships with clients and handling Rojan's legal responsibilities. Andy worked closely with the rest of the Rojan family in land and lease negotiations.
Felecia Kennedy
Chief of StaffA graduate of Goldey Beacom College, Felecia joined Rojan in 1997 as a real estate paralegal. Felecia handles the company's current tenants, tenant service calls, and accounts receivable/payable. She works closely with developers, architects, engineers, and local governments throughout the development process. Felecia is critical to Rojan's efficient operations.