Longtime WXRT air personality Johnny Mars has a new day job – real estate agent.
Mars has joined Baird & Warner’s Edgebrook office as a newly-licensed real estate agent, the company announced Friday. He also plans to keep rocking part-time at WXRT, his radio home since 1980.
“I’ve got to straddle both worlds, which I think will be good,” said Mars, 56. “It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to doing both.”
A Chicago native, Mars started at WXRT-FM 93.1 as a 22-year-old, and made his mark doing the late shift for some two decades at the pioneering rock station. Forced out in 2001, he had stints on short-lived WZZN-FM 94.7 and Nine FM, and began working in real estate between radio gigs.
In 2007, Mars rejoined CBS Radio’s WXRT part-time, and took a full-time job as a listing agent with Apartment People, a Chicago rental service. After 7 years of balancing radio and real estate, he decided to take the next step and become a licensed agent.
“It’s just seems like the right time,” Mars said. “The real estate market seems to be doing well. I’ve got my license and now I’m going to do this.”
Mars holds down the Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. air shift at WXRT, and fills in throughout the week as needed. He is confident that the two careers can be harmonious, and said being a rock ‘n’ roll real estate agent may be good for business.
“Obviously my name recognition for being in this town for 30-plus years is a nice thing to have,” Mars said.
While he has yet to sell his first home, Mars’ new colleagues at Baird & Warner are likewise banking on some synergy with the high-profile hiring.
“Johnny is a fantastic addition to the Baird & Warner team,” Lisa Kon, managing broker of the Edgebrook office, said in a statement. “I know Johnny will be a sales force to reckon with.”
rchannick@tribune.com
