Long before The Grupe Company became a recognizable name across Northern California, the family behind it was working with the land itself, building a legacy that stretched back generations and shaped the company’s approach to development. When Greenlaw “Fritz” Grupe, Jr. founded The Grupe Company in Stockton in 1966, he carried forward that long view — one rooted in stewardship, patience and the belief that what gets built should endure.
Six decades later, that philosophy still defines the company. Grupe has grown from a family-led developer into one of the region’s most established private real estate firms, with projects that include master-planned communities, apartment homes, commercial space and mixed-use neighborhoods. Through it all, the company has stayed close to the essentials of the business: land, planning and the people who turn an idea into a place where others live and work.
The development world has changed dramatically over those 60 years. What once centered on broad suburban expansion now calls for denser housing, smarter use of space and a more careful balance between growth, sustainability and affordability. While the company continues its legacy of thoughtful urban expansion, it has also embraced new priorities, adapting its approach to meet the moment while maintaining a steady focus on long-term value.
That includes work toward attainably priced housing — a need that has become even more urgent across California. In Sebastopol, the company is utilizing a new state law that allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be sold separately from the primary dwelling unit. ADUs have cost advantages due to size and a significant savings in the cost of the building permit, allowing Grupe to provide new homes at prices significantly lower than the prices without the benefit of the ADU savings.
Their forward-thinking approach was clear early on. In 2006, Grupe became the first company in Northern California to build a zero-energy home — a move that came before energy efficiency became a mainstream expectation. At the time, it was an unusual step. Today, it reads as proof that the company was paying attention to where the industry was headed, not just where it had been. That kind of innovation has long been part of Grupe’s identity, even when the broader market had not yet caught up.
Just as important as the projects themselves are the people who have stayed with the company to build them. Some Grupe employees have been there for decades, with a few reaching 40 years or more. In an industry where turnover can be high and projects often outlast the teams that start them, that kind of loyalty says something about the workplace. It points to a culture built on respect, collaboration and a shared sense that the work matters.
That sense of ownership is visible, too. Its name is placed proudly on developments as they rise, a sign that the company is involved from the ground up rather than only stepping in for one piece of the process.
After 60 years, Grupe’s story is not just about development. It is about endurance, adaptation and the kind of legacy that is built one project, one employee and one generation at a time.
This year marks the company’s 60th anniversary, a milestone that reflects not only the projects it has delivered, but also the people who have shaped it over time. For more than a decade, Mark Fischer and Jeremy White have served as CEO and COO, respectively, each bringing over 30 years of experience with the company. While Fischer and White serve at the helm, Fritz Grupe remains an active presence, continuing to help steward the company’s vision and values alongside its current leadership. Together, this blend of longstanding leadership and enduring family legacy signals not a departure, but an evolution — one that honors the foundation built over six decades while positioning the company for its next chapter of growth.
In the near-term, Grupe will be developing several infill projects in the Bay Area. These projects are all high-density attached products aimed at offering new housing at attainable prices.
After 60 years, Grupe’s story is not just about development. It is about endurance, adaptation and the kind of legacy that is built one project, one employee and one generation at a time.
