About
Atapco Properties, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Trading and Production Corporation (Atapco), was originally formed in 1931 to consolidate, expand and diversify the business activities of the Blaustein family, the founders of the American Oil Company (AMOCO).
Louis Blaustein, pictured on the right, started in the oil business by delivering kerosene with his son, Jacob, from a horse-drawn tank wagon through the streets of Baltimore. In 1910, Louis and Jacob founded American Oil in a one-room office in a converted stable. The company gained national recognition for innovation, well-planned and controlled expansion and diversification. Innovations included the first drive-in gas station, the first gasoline pump to show the motorist the amount of fuel received and the original anti-knock gasoline that permitted the development of the high-compression engine.
The company grew and expanded at a phenomenal rate. In 1954, American Oil merged with Standard Oil of Indiana, and, at that time, Atapco and the Blaustein family became major stockholders. (Standard Oil of Indiana changed its name to AMOCO Corporation in 1985 and, in 1998 merged with British Petroleum to form BP Amoco, PLC).
Atapco entered the real estate business in the early 1960's when it developed the Blaustein Building, its thirty story former headquarters building in downtown Baltimore. Since then, the company has developed and owned real estate in many markets across the United States. Today the company's developments are concentrated in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Beginning over a century ago, Louis and Jacob Blaustein built the company's foundation on a commitment to quality, integrity, excellence and dedication to the community. These qualities are carried on today by Atapco Properties under the leadership of its Chairman, Jacob Blaustein's grandson, Daniel B. Hirschhorn.
Over many years, the company has built its reputation one relationship at a time. As a developer, we strive to work responsibly with our communities and to create environments that facilitate the success of our tenants. As an owner, we strive to provide on-site management dedicated to responsive, high quality service for each of our tenants, large and small.