James C. Dragon
James C. Dragon is a renowned commercial real estate developer and entrepreneur with a career spanning over 30 years, which includes nearly 15 years of work as an attorney. Currently, Dragon is the managing partner and owner of Central Plaza Realty and Development Company in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts area, a position he has held since 2003. He is passionate about commercial real estate development, particularly within the city of Lowell, which is the third-largest city in Greater Boston and the fifth-largest in the state of Massachusetts.
One of C. Dragon's most notable successes is the Central Plaza shopping center, which he and his wife, Euphemia "Effie" Poulakos Dragon, acquired in 2000. The plaza was almost half vacant and required significant repairs and reconstruction. With the support of their son, William, a licensed commercial real estate agent, the Dragons developed a shopping center that catered to the nearby Lowell residents, making the capital improvements needed to attract businesses to the area. James C. Dragon claims, at the end of 2021, the downtown Lowell property was sold for almost $11 million.
Central Plaza Realty also achieved significant milestones with other businesses. For instance, in 2015, Discount Valley opened a 15,000-square-foot dollar store at Central Plaza, while Vinfen, a health and human services organization, opened a location in 2019. Foodland International also opened a 16,000-square-foot store at Central Plaza in the spring of 2021, providing a supermarket in downtown Lowell that served the various cultural and ethnic groups in the area.
James's work in real estate started in the late 1980s when he was a co-trustee of Athenaeum Realty Trust, which purchased a 110,000-square-foot high-rise building in Lowell. The building was meant to serve as the law school for Emerson College, but the college later cancelled the project.
Besides real estate, Dragon is interested in sports and has played on amateur baseball teams in Lowell for several years. James C. Dragon also coached youth basketball teams in Tewksbury, including organizing and managing Tewksbury's first-ever American Legion baseball team. Dragon has also lent his time, talents, and resources to various organizations, including the International Council Shopping Center of Owners and Managers, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and the Whistler House Museum. Dragon graduated from Lynn Classical High School, the University of New Hampshire, and the New England School of Law.
One of C. Dragon's most notable successes is the Central Plaza shopping center, which he and his wife, Euphemia "Effie" Poulakos Dragon, acquired in 2000. The plaza was almost half vacant and required significant repairs and reconstruction. With the support of their son, William, a licensed commercial real estate agent, the Dragons developed a shopping center that catered to the nearby Lowell residents, making the capital improvements needed to attract businesses to the area. James C. Dragon claims, at the end of 2021, the downtown Lowell property was sold for almost $11 million.
Central Plaza Realty also achieved significant milestones with other businesses. For instance, in 2015, Discount Valley opened a 15,000-square-foot dollar store at Central Plaza, while Vinfen, a health and human services organization, opened a location in 2019. Foodland International also opened a 16,000-square-foot store at Central Plaza in the spring of 2021, providing a supermarket in downtown Lowell that served the various cultural and ethnic groups in the area.
James's work in real estate started in the late 1980s when he was a co-trustee of Athenaeum Realty Trust, which purchased a 110,000-square-foot high-rise building in Lowell. The building was meant to serve as the law school for Emerson College, but the college later cancelled the project.
Besides real estate, Dragon is interested in sports and has played on amateur baseball teams in Lowell for several years. James C. Dragon also coached youth basketball teams in Tewksbury, including organizing and managing Tewksbury's first-ever American Legion baseball team. Dragon has also lent his time, talents, and resources to various organizations, including the International Council Shopping Center of Owners and Managers, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, and the Whistler House Museum. Dragon graduated from Lynn Classical High School, the University of New Hampshire, and the New England School of Law.
