Our Story

CASTO is more than a development company. CASTO is a full-service, fully integrated real estate services firm with a rich history of creating value and innovative solutions for our clients and the communities we serve. Here’s our story.

Our Story

CASTO is a privately held, fully integrated real estate services firm dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of client service. With more than 95 years of successful development and management of commercial, industrial, and residential real estate, we continue to use our core competencies, market strengths, and competitive advantages in ways that produce substantial returns, both financial and non-financial, for our clients, investors, partners and the communities in which our projects are located. We are a team of more than 325 associates who bring diverse talents, perspectives and experience to the CASTO name and believe that the best efforts are rewarded with the best results.

1926

The company was founded by Don M. Casto, Sr. in Columbus, Ohio to build single-family homes. After his death in 1963, radio commentator Paul Harvey described Mr. Casto as "the man who changed the shopping habits of the free world".

The company shifts its focus to retail with the opening of Grandview Avenue Shopping Center in Columbus, Ohio. Also known as "The Bank Block", the area is still a thriving retail corridor today.

1928

1949

Opens one of the nation’s first regional shopping centers, Town & Country, in suburban Whitehall, Ohio.

The company adds 8,747,780 square feet to its portfolio throughout the Midwest and gains national prominence as a leader in property management.

In 1951, CASTO opens its first apartment community called Mayfair Apartments in Columbus, Ohio.

The company merges with Columbus developer R.J. Solove Properties, acquiring 23 shopping centers and four apartment communities.

1950s – 1980s

1990s

CASTO commits to retail development in Florida and enters the North Carolina market with an initial acquisition of 1 million square feet of retail in 1995.

Glenmuir, the company’s first new apartment community in 45 years, opens in Columbus, Ohio in 1996.

CASTO Southeast completes a redevelopment of former Winter Park Mall in Winter Park, Florida, into an open-air lifestyle center and renamed the center Winter Park Village, which was the first of its kind. The 524,000-square-foot mixed-use project features upscale retail and entertainment, office space and 58 loft apartment units. This redevelopment propelled CASTO Southeast into the mixed-use development arena.

In 2001, the company expands into Cincinnati, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois with the acquisition of 13 shopping centers.

2000s

2010 – Present

CASTO reinvigorates its residential portfolio with ten projects in the pipeline and expands CASTO Communities' presence to Cleveland, Ohio. The company also expands its single-family home sales program — CASTO Realty Group.

CASTO continues to expand its portfolio and owns properties in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

Contact CASTO

Thank you for considering CASTO for all of your residential and commercial real estate needs. Please fill out the contact form and a CASTO team member will respond to you as soon as possible.