From Guyana to Harlem one hundred years strong

A family real estate business that began in Harlem a century ago is celebrating 100 years of operation, marking a rare milestone in Black entrepreneurship and community impact.

Founded by three sisters from Guyana, Lucille, Millicent, and Sarah Edwards, the firm now known as ESRA Realty LLC began its journey in New York after the sisters immigrated from the South American nation seeking better opportunities. Settling in Harlem, they started the real estate business at 740 St. Nicholas Avenue. This year, that business marks its 100th anniversary.

The company’s legacy has been carefully preserved by their descendants, including Ramona Grey-Harris, daughter of Sarah Edwards and current head of the business. Grey-Harris reflected on the firm’s long history and her journey discovering its origins.

One of her earliest discoveries included an 11,000-square-foot home the sisters bought in Hastings-on-Hudson during the 1940s, which became a refuge for incoming family members from Guyana. That house, and their eventual move to Westchester, helped shape the sisters’ vision for building not just homes, but generational support structures.

In addition to real estate, the sisters previously ran an employment agency near 34th Street and 6th Avenue. Grey-Harris said learning of this early endeavor helped her understand the entrepreneurial spirit that motivated her aunts. She found documents, postcards, and letterheads that painted a picture of women ahead of their time — traveling widely, forming contacts, and creating pathways for others to succeed in America.

Since joining the company after college, Grey-Harris and her siblings have taken on various roles in continuing the legacy. Now, a third generation is involved, as her nephews help lead the business into a new phase focused on property management and development.

Grey-Harris spoke candidly about challenges the business has faced, especially systemic racism. Watching her aunt navigate discrimination as a child instilled in her a sense of resilience. She noted that Harlem, once known for its cultural richness and community strength, has also endured being treated as a dumping ground — with methadone centers and shelters disproportionately concentrated in its ZIP codes.

She believes these issues reflect broader systemic failures in addressing addiction, mental health, and homelessness. Still, she maintains hope that businesses rooted in the community, like ESRA, can help lead meaningful change.

In honor of its 100th anniversary, ESRA Realty will host a black-and-gold gala at The Alhambra Ballroom on November 14. The theme, “100 Years of Harlem,” will celebrate the firm’s deep roots and enduring presence in the neighborhood it has long called home.

Grey-Harris remains focused on building a future that honors the past. “I’m proud of our longevity and adaptability,” she said, “and I want to make sure the next generation understands that legacy is more than survival, it’s about making space for others too.”

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