Real Estate
From the Back
of the House.
Corporate Strategist. Licensed Business & Commercial Agent. 30 years building businesses in hospitality and development.
I've built restaurants, developed multi-unit properties, and made payroll in tight spaces. My edge isn't a sales pitch it's 30 years of shutting up and listening to what a deal actually needs to survive.
Ignacio "Mondo" Zelaya
Commercial Advisor · Luxury Collection Specialist
About Mondo
The Agent Who's Been
in Your Shoes
Most commercial agents walk in ready to talk. Mondo walks in ready to hear. Shut up. Listen. Then engineer the deal. That's the philosophy behind 30 years as a restaurant operator, corporate strategist, and real estate developer and it's what separates him from every agent who's never made payroll.
Now a licensed Business & Commercial Agent and Corporate Strategist with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Abbott Realtors in Wyckoff, NJ, Mondo drives business growth through acquisitions and turnarounds. He works across hospitality, multi-unit development, retail, storage, and investment properties, evaluating every deal the way a seasoned operator would, not just a salesman.
"The best deals I've ever done started with me shutting up and listening. When you understand what someone actually needs not what they say they want that's when you find the real opportunity."
The Mondo Difference
Every Other Agent vs. Mondo
What Mondo Does
Commercial Real Estate Services
30 years across hospitality and development. Mondo brings equal depth to multi-unit projects and restaurant deals two specialties most agents have never touched.
Multi-Unit Development
From site acquisition to disposition, Mondo has closed townhome developments, off-market portfolios, and approved projects across Bergen and Passaic counties. He evaluates development deals the way a builder does not just a broker.
Hospitality & Food Service
30 years as a restaurant operator means Mondo evaluates every hospitality property through the lens of someone who has actually run the business grease traps, ventilation, kitchen flow, utilities, and lease survival.
Investment & Off-Market Deals
Mondo sources and closes deals that never hit the MLS. His operator and developer network gives clients access to off-market portfolios like the 86-unit and 31-unit transactions closed in Bergen County.
Retail & Mixed-Use
Strategic site selection and leasing for retail concepts. Mondo analyzes traffic patterns, co-tenancy dynamics, and lease structures that protect your business model not just your square footage.
Lease Review & Advisory
Pre-signature lease review from an operator's perspective. Mondo identifies the clauses that look harmless but can cost you tens of thousands the ones a standard agent never mentions.
Buyer, Seller & Developer Rep
Full representation across the transaction spectrum from business owners entering the market to developers seeking entitlements. Mondo negotiates from 30 years of operational and development knowledge.
Where Mondo Works
Northern New Jersey Service Area
Four counties. One operator's perspective. Mondo brings deep local knowledge and an active deal pipeline across Bergen, Passaic, Essex, and Union counties.
Proof Over Promises
Closed Deals & Track Record
Every agent claims results. Mondo shows them. From off-market portfolios and multi-unit developments to hospitality sales and approved projects. here's 30 years of real work across Northern New Jersey.
Multi-Unit Development
Complex multi-unit residential development transaction. Navigated zoning, approvals, and buyer qualification from start to close.
3-Family Investment Property
Three-family income-producing property. Identified the right buyer, structured the deal, and closed in Essex County.
Wyckoff Pizzeria
Full business and real estate sale of an operating pizzeria. Mondo's operator background made him uniquely qualified to value and close this deal.
Landscaping Company
Commercial business sale including equipment, contracts, and client base. Bergen County landscaping operation sold to qualified buyer.
8-Townhome Development
Bergen County development project. 8 townhomes sold. Full development cycle from land acquisition through final unit disposition.
86-Unit Portfolio
86-unit off-market deal in Little Ferry. The kind of transaction that never hits the MLS. sourced through Mondo's operator network and closed quietly.
31-Unit Portfolio
31-unit off-market transaction in Hackensack. Sourced, structured, and closed without ever hitting the open market.
Oakland Storage Facility
Approved storage facility development in Oakland. Full entitlement and approval process navigated. shovel-ready.
Clifton 55 Plus Community
Approved 55+ active adult residential development in Clifton. Entitlements secured, approvals in hand. ready for development.
Ready to add your deal to this list?
Run the Operator's Checkup — Free ToolClient Voices
What Happens When You Listen First
Mondo doesn't just find you a property. He finds you the right deal. He walked my numbers before I even made an offer and caught a zoning issue that would have cost me six figures. That's not an agent. That's a partner.
I've worked with a lot of brokers over the years. Mondo is the only one who actually listened to what I needed before telling me what he had. He found us an off-market site that never would have shown up on any portal.
Selling a restaurant is not like selling a house. Mondo understood the business side, the lease assignment, the equipment valuation — everything. He made a complicated deal feel simple. I'd call him again without hesitation.
Mondo's Signature Service
The Operator's Audit
Before you sign anything, let Mondo walk the space with you. This is not a free consultation it's a 30-year operator and developer's inspection of every detail that will affect your business or your project's bottom line.
Infrastructure Deep Dive
Electrical capacity, HVAC routing, plumbing, grease trap access, ventilation the hidden costs that can bankrupt you before opening day.
Operational Flow Analysis
Kitchen layout efficiency, service flow, storage logistics, loading dock access evaluated by someone who has actually run a business in a space like this.
Lease Clause Autopsy
CAM charges, exclusivity clauses, personal guarantee exposure, co-tenancy traps, renewal options Mondo reads leases the way an operator does, not a lawyer.
Neighborhood Survival Report
Foot traffic patterns, parking reality, competitor proximity, delivery access, zoning edge cases the factors that determine whether your business survives year one.
No commitment required. No sales pitch. Just the truth.
The Off-Market Advantage
Mondo maintains a private, curated list of commercial properties that never hit the MLS. Whether you're selling quietly or searching for your next deal — this is where it starts.
Get in Touch
Let's Talk About
Your Next Move
Whether you're looking to buy, lease, or sell commercial property in Bergen County, Mondo brings an operator's perspective to every conversation. No scripts. No pressure. Just straight talk.
Request a Consultation
Tell Mondo about your commercial real estate needs. He'll give you a straight answer, not a sales pitch.