When an out-of-towner saw work being done on the building at 901 N. Broad St., he asked a local real estate agent, “What’s that building that’s being renovated?”
The owners of the new building don’t object to the confusion, because looking like historic Rome is what they had in mind.
“We wanted to make the building blend in with the rest of the city, but with modern components,” said Jerry Dempsey, financial advisor and chief executive officer of Dempsey Lord Smith LLC. “Everyone has been complimentary.”
“We had heard from local Realtors there was a need for Class-A office space at this corner (of North Broad Street and Turner McCall Boulevard). We think we’ve got it here now,” said Ernie Smith, financial advisor with DLS. “It’s tied into the Broad Street look, especially the bricks.”
There are more than 200,000 bricks in the four-story building designed by Rome architect Robert Noble.
DLS occupies the fourth floor of the building, where the conference room looks over the busy intersection with Turner McCall Boulevard and into the heart of historic Rome, a view book-ended by the Clock Tower and the historic Floyd County Courthouse.
The company built steps from its parking deck to a sidewalk leading to St. Mary’s Catholic Church next door so that parishioners can park there during non-business hours.
The firm leases office space to four other businesses, and has 23,000 more square feet available.
“We’re hoping to attract other like businesses to move in here, even out-of-town companies. And as our own business expands, we have room for growth,” Dempsey said.
The firm has five financial consultants in the building. Third partner John Lord works in the Calhoun office.
DLS was the first local broker-dealer firm in Northwest Georgia, Dempsey said. “We think it’s a unique thing. It allows us to not only work with financial advisors here locally but also in the region. And there is national potential. There are no real boundaries.”
“And we don’t have to send our money to a financial institution in another city. The money stays right here,” Smith said.
It also allows the firm to serve financial advisors with other businesses. Outside advisors are independent contractors, Dempsey said. “We provide the systems and support they need to operate their business.
“We are a traditional full-service broker-dealer. We do business both on a commission basis and fee-based investment advisory.
“Most of our business is built through personal relationships, referrals and networking,” Dempsey said. “We tailor our products and services to what we feel is in our clients’ best interest.”
Dempsey got his license in 1988, Smith in 1992 and Lord in 1985. And DLS has been around since 1996. “We’ve got experience, for sure,” Dempsey said.
