David Abele

When the man dubbed ‘The Downtown Guy’ tells you his first job was working at Comic City at the age of 13, you have a hard time believing the name isn’t true. And since that first day at that first job, he hasn’t stopped working a day in his life. “Relaxing, for me, is doing the same amount of work in a different place,” he said.


Photo by Chris Bohnhoff

As a realtor for Coldwell Banker and Sotheby’s International, he didn’t get a conventional start. After a stint in Germany where he got his start in fashion retail, his return to United States brought him to Ralph Lauren and Neiman Marcus. His climb up the management ladder in the retail industry wasn’t unlike his journey into real estate. David had been involved long before he became a licensed realtor in 1995. Whether it was landscape, plumbing, or caring for other details of a space, David naturally wanted to make the lives of others better through their living space.

After getting a peek at work outside the corporate box through a change of circumstance and realizing the demands of corporate America, he started to think outside-the-box for a new career. The transition from Dave the ‘retail guy’ to Dave the ‘real estate guy’ was tough, but having a background in service made the transition easier. His commitment to service eventually paid off when he was able to be in real estate full-time in 2003.

David is a teacher at heart who loves to educate others about Minneapolis. “I feed off the energy of the city,” he said. This energy is utilized most when showing around people new to the city – his favorites to usher around. For David, service isn’t reserved just for the client. He is very involved in the community – the American Cancer Society, Smile Network, Minnesota Aids Project, and he serves on the board for DIVA Minnesota and Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center.

For being known chiefly as the downtown guru, David is diverse when it comes to other areas of the city where he sells. These areas include: the North Loop, Elliot Park, St. Anthony, Kenwood, Edina, Wayzata, among many others. He works with buyers, sellers, 1st time homebuyers, and those looking to buy million-dollar condos. His advice to buyers: ‘Buy now!’ His advice to sellers: ‘Sell now, but be realistic about prices.’


Photo by Chris Bohnhoff

If being involved philanthropically wasn’t enough, the man is a cultural sponge. He’s even got Facebook- give him a search and you may find yourself checking his updates for what’s happening on the cultural calendar. After you add him on Facebook, bop over to his Web site and see the long list of resources he provides for services and entertainment throughout the Twin Cities – which really isn’t surprising given his nature of service.

With frequent 15-hour workdays and the risk involved with being a realtor, David can’t imagine himself doing anything else. “I love the satisfaction I get from making a difference in people’s lives,” he said. “A type of satisfaction I can’t get from anything else.”

It’s paying attention to the details that matter to David, like walking his dog 3 times a day, making sure every light fixture in a house works, showing the new Minneapolis couple around town, or noting the blue skies on his Facebook status. That’s David, just doing what he knows - making a difference through his service.

-Melinda Feucht