Interview: John Catsimatidis - WABC Radio

<p>John Catsimatidis is the owner of Red Apple Media Group, which owns WABC Radio AM 770. He is a self-made billionaire, with ownership of grocery stores such as D&#39;Agostino and Gristedes supermarket chains, as well as investments in energy and real estate sectors, among others.</p><p>Recently, the group purchased Rockland County&#39;s only remaining AM radio station frequency, AM 1700 - formerly known as WRCR Radio. Catsimatidis is doing this as part of a larger vision for the future of AM Radio.John&#39;s book &quot;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Far-You-Want-Common-Sense-ebook/dp/B0B2MGZ3MG" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">How Far Do You Want to Go</a>&quot; is a chronicle of his story that is rooted in humble beginnings.</p><p>John was born on the Greek Island of Nisyros in 1948 and 6 months later his parents emigrated to New York City in search of a better life. They settled on 135th Street in Harlem and his father found work as a busboy and his mother was a stay-at-home mom.</p><p>John is a true son of New York; he was educated in both the parochial and public school systems earning his high school diploma from Brooklyn Tech. John enrolled in New York University to study electrical engineering; going to school during the day and working in a small grocery store on nights and weekends to help his parents pay the bills. </p><p>During his senior year, with just 8 credits remaining, John dropped out of NYU to work in the grocery business full-time. By his 25th birthday he was already a success with 10 Red Apple Supermarkets scattered along Broadway on Manhattan’s Upper Westside.</p><p>Now, four decades later the Red Apple Group has evolved into a diversified corporation that has holdings in the energy, aviation, retail and real estate sectors and over 8,000 employees, with approximately 2,000 located in New York City. </p><p>John and his wife Margo Catsimatidis live on Manhattan’s Upper East side and are parents to 2 grown children; Andrea and John Jr. During this podcast, John also announced the birth of his second Grandson.</p><p>John is a firm believer in giving back to the community and has been a strong supporter of the Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years.</p><p>He serves on the Board of Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, the Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund, and over the years served in a variety of volunteer positions in the Greek Orthodox Church.</p><p>. . . and is continuing to live the American Dream.</p>