Joseph (Joe) Freed learned the business from his father Louis who started Capitol Store Fixtures at 1036 West Grand Avenue in Chicago in the 1930s. The company built store shelves and display cases, primarily for the Public Shoe Service Corporation. After serving in WW II, Joe joined Louis to manage the company's growth from the post war expansion of the retail industry.

From the late 1940s to the mid 1960s, Joe grew Capitol into Capitol Fixture and Construction Company, a major construction contractor for interiors of stores, restaurants and financial institutions across the U.S. His work for regional shopping centers, as well as some of the nation's largest retailers, including Edison Bros., the U.S. Shoe Corporation of America, and Interstate Department Stores with their Toys "R" Us chain, fostered alliances that played a key role in the formation of Joseph Freed and Associates.

Upon Louis' death in 1960, Joe assumed control of the company and moved it to a newly-built plant in the booming northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. In 1961, Joe invested in 50 acres of vacant land in the area. With profits from the sale of just half the acreage, Joe developed his remaining property into the community's first shopping center, and founded Joseph Freed and Associates, a shopping center development company, in 1965.

Northpoint opened in 1968, anchored by Jewel Foods, Walgreens, Turn Style Department Store, Republic Lumber and John M. Smythe Furniture. The company's first shopping center was owned and managed by JFA until 2007.

In 1975 Capitol Store Fixtures and Capital Construction became the Capitol Companies, Inc. with three operating divisions: Capitol Store Fixtures, Capitol Construction, specializing in interior and exterior construction for major retailers, and Fragman Construction, a builder of free-standing community centers, restaurants, banks and industrial buildings.

By 1986, JFA had become the largest privately-owned shopping center developer in the Midwest. Joe's son Larry left his corporate and real estate position at the May Department Stores, to join Freed that year. He assumed overall administration responsibilities for the company and established the third generation of the family's retail construction and real estate businesses, ultimately transitioning the family business into a major national real estate firm.

With a long string of successful projects in its portfolio, Joseph Freed and Associates was ready to evolve its capabilities. As competition and overdevelopment within the industry escalated, JFA saw the chance to take on its first redevelopment, mixed-use and historic restoration projects in 1986.

JFA redeveloped the former Wieboldt's department store, located in an under-served area of Chicago's inner city. The upper floors were turned into office space, an adjacent building was constructed for major anchor tenants, and the original building was restored to its former dignity. Due to the company's foresight and strategic planning, the project was granted the first tax abatement ever for a commercial redevelopment of its kind by the Cook County Assessor's office.

JFA's ingenuity in the real estate industry and consistent success catapulted the company into other ventures. JFA entered the residential marketplace in 1986, creating Joseph Freed Homes, an affiliate focusing on condominiums, town home and loft-style residences.

In the early 1990s, Joseph Freed and Associates originated the trend of de-malling enclosed mini-malls returning their inherent value as open strip centers. In addition, the company introduced aggressive sales enhancement and value-added programs consisting of major upgrades, re-tenanting and expansions to revitalize seasoned centers and help tenants increase their customer base.

JFA later worked with the municipality of Arlington Heights to achieve the objective of a large-scale downtown enrichment program. Located in a TIF district, the land was purchased from the Village of Arlington Heights. The project consisted of a mix of retail and office space, a theatre, 94 condominiums and an underground parking garage. The project, completed in 1999, was JFA's first of several mixed-used, transit-oriented developments in suburban downtown business districts.

JFA's success has always been attributed to a willingness, encouraged by an ability, to take educated risks in the pursuit and selection of high-profile real estate investment opportunities that show inherent upside potential. The Streets of Woodfield, a 630,000-square-foot, regional lifestyle shopping center located adjacent to Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois exemplifies this. At the time of its acquisition in 2003, the center had significant vacancies as well as opportunities for redevelopment. The center is now uniquely characterized by its streetscape architecture, seating areas, walkways, water fountain and pedestrian-friendly environment. Re-tenanting and remodeling has restored the center's relevance and vitality.

In 2001, JFA also acquired the former Carson Pirie Scott building, a national landmark designed by famed architect Louis Sullivan in the 19th century. The high-profile 1,000,000- square-foot vintage restoration project, located on Chicago's State and Madison streets was at the heart of the Chicago Loop urban renaissance, on the city's most desirable block. Phase I Restoration was completed in late 2005 and awarded the 2006 Preservation Excellence Award from the City of Chicago and the Devine Detail Award from the AIA (American Institute of Architects). Phase II Restoration, completed in 2011, entailed the restoration of the ornate, two-story, cast-iron facade on the building along State and Madison streets, and has received numerous preservation awards from the City of Chicago and other organizations.

Over the course of three generations, Joseph Freed and Associates has become one of the few national real estate companies equally proficient in retail, commercial and residential components of mixed-used projects.

Hilldale is a multi-phase mixed-use redevelopment project on 37 acres in Madison, Wisconsin, located three miles from the center of the downtown and the University of Wisconsin. Phase I was completed in 2006 and included the complete renovation of Hilldale Shopping Center, an icon in the Madison community, which now includes the nation's first Sundance Cinema. The project also includes 40 townhouses and condominium units at Hilldale Row, 75,000 square feet of additional street retail space and a 667-space parking garage.

Located in the heart of the Loop in the City of Chicago, Block 37 is a high-profile transit-oriented mixed-use development that is positioned to revitalize the city's civic and business districts. This iconic development, which opened in 2009, features approximately 280,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space within a five-story atrium adjacent to an office media tower, anchored by an interactive CBS 2 Chicago broadcasting studio. The project also connects to the City's extensive Pedway System, as well as providing access to the CTA Red and Blue lines.

Throughout its history, JFA has completed some of the most challenging and successful development projects in the industry. Today, JFA remains a full service real estate company focused on new development and management opportunities within the retail industry.