John Billone’s father was known for his entrepreneurial spirit.
“My dad was a mover and shaker,” recalls Billone, co-owner of NuFlow Services of Upstate New York in Rochester with brother-in-law Moe Aubry. “During his plumbing apprenticeship, he bought and operated pizzerias and laundry mats.”
In addition to local businesses, the elder Billone invested in real estate. So when Billone sold his Mr. Rooter franchise in 2001, he was set on elevating the family real estate business into local real estate development.
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“I got started in historical restorations, so the preservation board was my nemesis. We did some significant projects in Rochester, like the Medical Arts Building, Sacred Heart Academy and a hotel.”
One of these development projects was the first LEED-certified building in Rochester. Billone converted an 11-story commercial art deco building built in 1930 into a mixed-use residential building.
“We installed massive geothermal heating systems, tearing up a perfectly good parking lot in the process. We drilled 70 wells, 245 feet deep. It was one of the best projects we did. We were the first completely geothermal building in Rochester, back in 2002.”
But the stress of real estate development and more stringent building regulations began to wear on Billone over time.
“Real estate development jobs take 20 years to see a return. I had some success, but by the end, I just wanted to line pipe with Moe. I remember our first job with NuFlow Upstate, we got a check in 30 days. That was a welcome change.”
Read more about NuFlow Services of Upstate New York in the August 2025 issue of Cleaner magazine.
