Meet Ken Burkamp, Photographer and Owner of the Manchester Mall

I first met Ken Burkhamp many years ago when he contacted me with an issue he had for me as a member of the Manchester Board of Directors. I met him in his office at the Manchester Mall, and I was impressed with the photography work that he had displayed there. Ken describes his main occupation as a photographer, but his business is property management.

Timothy Becker: Ken, are you a Manchester native?

Ken Burkamp: I was born in Willimantic. From the time that I was three years old I have lived in Manchester. I went to the Green School and I was in the last class to graduate from the old High School that in now Bennet Housing on Main Street. Our class of 1955 graduated in the State Theater.

Timothy Becker: What kind of job did you have during high school?

Ken Burkamp: I started pumping gas at Charlie's Garage. Charlie's used to do a lot of repairs on the Brooks Funeral Home ambulance. One day when there was an emergency I was asked to drive the ambulance. That was in 1953. It was a very unique job for a 16-year old. Occasionally, I was called out of school to drive the ambulance.

Timothy Becker: When did you start your photography business?

Ken Burkamp: I started in 1955. In High School, I used to set up the projectors. One day I brought my camera with me on the ambulance. At one accident scene I took photos. The accident was between an oil truck and a car. The “Manchester Herald” asked me for the photo. Then I received a call from both insurance companies. I was making more from taking accident photos than driving the ambulance.

Timothy Becker: What is your main profession today?

Ken Burkamp: I'm a photographer. You never get rich as a photographer. You always live hand to mouth. I bought my first house in 1962. It was a two-family house. My wife, my kids and I lived in one side an I rented the other side. I found out that I could live rent free by having my tenant cover my mortgage payment. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't been able to do photography.

Timothy Becker: What was your first real estate investment?

Ken Burkamp: My first investment property was a two-family that I bought for $19, 000. After that I bought an abandoned gas station on Center Street. That is where the Subway sandwich shop is now. I also bought the train bridge over Center Street. In the early 1990s real estate was tanking. I bought a condo on Middle Turnpike. Denise Reale was the broker. She called the next week with more buying opportunities and I wound up buying seven units. Banks at that time wanted the condos off their books. Over the next few years I bought another 16 units. I now own 23 units and I'm still paying off the mortgages.

Timothy Becker: When did you acquire the old W.T. Grants that is now the Manchester Mall?

Ken Burkamp: Grant's rented the building from Abraham Druckman. I bought the building in December of 1975. The Town Manager Bob Weiss encouraged me to purchase and renovate it. There was about 60 vacant storefronts on Main Street at that time. I had promises of help. Then the economy turned sour. The people who promised to help couldn't.

Timothy Becker: I remember that you had a difference of opinion with the town regarding property taxes. What happened?

Ken Burkamp: I learned a valuable lesson. In 1975 the prime rate was six percent and the banks were not lending. By 1980, the prime rate was 21 percent. The rate for delinquent taxes was 12 percent. Many people were not paying property taxes because it was cheaper than borrowing money from a bank. I eventually sold some land that I had in Mansfield and squared up with the town of Manchester. I vowed never to get behind with my bills ever again.

Timothy Becker: What is the Manchester Mall all about?

Ken Burkamp: A small business man can start out with a low rent and get their business out of their home. The businesses are mostly antiques and collectables. At one time I had a very popular game room here, but the pin ball machines are mechanical, and I can't find anyone to repair them. My wife Ann also has her beauty salon here.

Timothy Becker: What are you spending most of your time on these days?

Ken Burkamp: Most of my time right now is being spent as a collection agency. People who used to pay their rent right on time, I am now collecting weekly payments from.

Timothy Becker: What do you think of the future of real estate in Manchester?

Ken Burkamp: Eventually prices will go up. There is only so much land. It will be a while before there are vacation homes on the moon. I'm sure everything will double in value just as it has for the past two hundred years. At 74, I'm busy every day. We were going to retire 10 years ago but we haven't been able to.