When it comes to his work, Peter Souhleris isn’t easily distracted. But today his son, Athan, is turning four years old, and Souhleris is picking him up to shop for a new bicycle. Never mind that Souhleris, BEN ’15, and his friend and business partner, David Seymour, are in the midst of the biggest property rehab venture of their careers and negotiating to get their popular TV show back on the air. Three years ago, the duo became stars of “Flipping Boston,” the A&E series that recently wrapped, at least for the time being. Over four seasons and 29 episodes, millions of viewers followed the pair’s shenanigans and witnessed some near-miraculous before-and-after real estate reincarnations.
Today Souhleris and Seymour are in Danvers, Mass., at the site of their largest flip so far, a daunting rehab that will cost around $4 million. With autumn softening the sunshine, Souhleris stands in the foundation for one of seven townhouses planned for the property, which also includes commercial space. All of the units will be rented or sold through Souhleris and Seymour’s company, CityLight Homes of Peabody, Mass.
Finding Success
The Souhleris-Seymour story is a saga about two hardworking family guys who got by and then found success in a famously fickle field. Before he met Souhleris, Seymour performed standup comedy, and worked for 16 years as a firefighter and paramedic. Souhleris has been a successful DJ in Boston nightclubs and owns a couple of small restaurants. They both grew up abroad, Souherlis in Greece and Seymour in England.
They met in 2007 when Seymour, surfing online for new opportunities, seized on a Craigslist ad that Souhleris had placed for a business investor. Seymour had no money to contribute, and zero flipping experience. But Souhleris liked Seymour’s background and pitch. “I figured, what’s the worst that can happen?” Souhleris recalls. “And then I showed up,” Seymour laughs.
Their schedule is incredibly busy; they flip about 10 places a year. The to-do lists are intimidating, from finding the fixer-uppers, through staging and selling. There’s little they haven’t done in their work. They’ve knocked down walls and gutted bathrooms, sparred with municipal bureaucrats and conquered varmint infestations.
Then there’s Wentworth.
Sharing Experience
After suspending his studies at the Institute in the 1990s to chart a future, Souhleris finished his requirements here in 2015, earning a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology. One of Seymour’s three sons, Robert, is a Wentworth junior, studying computer science. He appeared in several “Flipping” shows and recalls how the yin and yang camaraderie between his dad and Souhleris made the show work.
“He’s a great kid,” says Dave Seymour. “He loves going to Wentworth, and he’s learning a lot. For us, Wentworth is an opportunity to give back—to share something of our experience with younger minds.”
Last May, when Seymour and Souhleris visited campus and spoke to a crowd of students, faculty, and staff, they were a hit—flashing the give-and-take that got them past hundreds of other competitors to land the A&E show. They’ve also been active with Accelerate, Wentworth Innovation + Entrepreneurship Center—Dave as a pitch round judge this past summer, Peter on an alumni panel about “makers, dreamers, and doers.” Souhleris said finally earning his Wentworth degree has helped him in life and business. “That’s a very special memory for me—getting my diploma,” he says. “I had some God-given skills, but Wentworth brought them out and showed me how to use them in my business every day.” –Dennis Nealon
