By Holly Dutton

Like a lot of people in the industry, investment sales specialist David Robinov got his earliest lessons in real estate through playing Monopoly as a kid.

But Robinov’s father, Gil Robinov, a commercial leasing broker, took it to the next level.

“If he landed on one of your properties, he would say ‘I don’t owe you any money, because I actually own the land underneath it, it’s a ground lease,’” said Robinov.

“If you were running low on money, instead of just wiping you out, he would create a joint venture where he’d let you stay in business, but you had to give him all your money. He’d sort of keep you alive like a JV partner, where you were the poor developer and he was the one with all the money, and he was sort of in partnership with you.”

Gil Robinov is executive managing director of an international advisory group at Murray Hill Properties, where he works with global clients and specializes in buying office space and buildings around the United Nations in Midtown East.

Staying true to its pledge to lease Coney Island space to local businesses in the wake of the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy, Thor Equities announced it had secured placements for Brooklyn-based retailers in the heart of the People’s Playground.
The Nets Shop by Adidas, an exclusive Brooklyn Nets gear retailer, Wampum surf-and-skate shop,
Coney Island Convenience and Brooklyn Rock will open at the Stillwell Avenue location.

Silverstein Properties last week secured financing to construct a skyscraper at 30 Park Place in Tribeca that will include a Four Seasons hotel and Private Residences.

At 926 feet, the property will be the tallest residential tower in Downtown Manhattan and one of the tallest buildings in New York City.

Construction will begin on the 82-story tower in Fall 2013 with the grand opening set for 2016.

Iron Chef Michael Symon sells his Soho penthouse, plus what’s up with the penthouse at One-57?

Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF) has grown its Fairfield County, Conn. and Westchester County, N.Y., operations with the addition of three industry leading professionals.
NGKF is pleased to welcome Jacqueline Durels as senior managing director, and Tim Rorick and Jodie LaRocque as managing directors.
Marcus & Millichap Capital Corporation (MMCC) has named R. John Wilcox II as vice president.
Massey Knakal Realty Services announced that Aliaksandr Svetlakou has been
promoted to director of sales

Deals closed by Meridian Capital Group, GCP Capital Group, Eastern Union, Pergolis Swartz Associates and more

Prism Capital Partners LLC has teamed up with Angelo, Gordon & Co. to acquire Princeton Pike Corporate Center for $121 million, which factors out to $151 psf.
The eight-building, class A office park, situated in Lawrenceville in Central New Jersey’s Mercer County, totals 800,000 s/f. The seller was Brandywine Realty Trust.

The Savills Hospitality Group — a US-based unit of Savills international real estate services firm — has been retained to market the fee-simple interest in the MAve Hotel located at 62 Madison Avenue on the corner of 27th Street.

Adams & Co. Real Estate, Winoker Realty, Inwood Property Group and other lease transactions of the week