Danny Nicolo, who after graduating from Xaverian, a private preparatory high school in Brooklyn, began pursuing an architectural program at Pratt Institute. But he was also an industrious young man.
During his studies, Nicolo worked at his family’s catering business, A&S Italian Marketplace, which specialized in Italian dishes. In the 1990s, he dedicated himself full-time to the family business, and opened several more A&S Italian Marketplace locations in the tristate area, including on Long Island. Nicolo and the catering business were successful, but he believed he needed to spend more time with his wife and children.
“Health and family are everything,” he said at the time.
And, with the blessing of his father, Nicolo took a break from the catering business and decided to challenge himself and seek other opportunities.
He took a risk, investing all of his savings into real-estate. He soon opened a one-man brokerage firm in the basement of his home. He provided customers with personal service and guidance.
Nicolo soon felt there was a need to hire other people and expand his business.
In 2008, he established Meadowbrook Financial Mortgage Bankers Corp. From humble beginnings, the Westbury-based lender is now licensed in 26 states and has branches in New York City, Florida, New Jersey, Arizona, and Westchester County.
Nicolo is Meadowbrook’s president and chief executive officer. The company is privately-held. It is a direct lender, not a broker.
According to its website, it has about 200 employees and between $500 million to $1 billion in revenues. The institution has about 200 loan officers.
Meadowbrook says it is “dedicated to simplifying the mortgage process, ensuring seamless experiences with best-in-class turnaround times, clear communication, and comprehensive education every step of the way.”
Meadowbrook prides itself on its outreach to the community. According to its website, it has built bicycles for neighborhood children, held pet adoption festivals, food drives, and holiday gifting events, and fundraisers.
One of its employees swam from Alcatraz prison to shore in freezing weather to celebrate his 60th birthday and raise funds for the local veterans and the Hance Family Foundation, which honors the three Hance daughters, Emma, 8, Alyson, 7 and Kate, 5, who were tragically killed on the Taconic State Parkway in 2009 when their aunt drove the wrong way on the parkway. A total of over $8,600 was raised.
In 2021, the website says, a group of employees formed a small nonprofit called Mission Helping Hands. They raised $100,000 to help veterans organizations, services to help people with autism, and funds also to empower women and girls of all ages, and victims of domestic violence.
They held a kick-off event in 2022 — a softball game called Catch for a Cause, to raise funds for the Fagan Residence, a rehabilitation facility that provides treatment for adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Meadowbrook also likes to hold “morale-boosting” events, such as contests, softball games, company-appreciation-trips, and surprise early closings.
Meadowbrook has a philosophy: “When our team members are happy, a great attitude is sure to follow.”
The bank says it “takes a personalized approach for each client’s unique financial situation and goals. Our commitment goes beyond transactions, it’s about building relationships grounded in trust and respect.”
Meadowbrook said its “dedication has earned us accolades for our award-winning company culture, reflective of our team’s passion and dedication to our clients’ success.”
On Meadowbrook’s website, clients express satisfaction with the service.
One client wrote that he was “provided outstanding support throughout” his home-buying process. The loan officer, the client said, “went above and beyond, dedicating so much time and effort to ensure every detail was handled perfectly. His professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine care made all the difference.”
Nicolo, Meadowbrook says, now has some more time to spend with his family, and to travel, something it says “he has always wanted to do.”
