Gardiner Realty was founded in 1978 by Francis E. "Skip" Gardiner, Jr. for the purpose of managing a few buildings in Crofton, Maryland built by his construction company. Over the several years, Gardiner Realty pieced together several parcels into what is now the 100-acre Priest Bridge Business Park. As the company grew in the 1980s, it ventured into developing properties in Annapolis and Southern Maryland. During this time the Company also took-on several third-party brokerage and property management assignments.