b"Sixty Homesand CountingWorking with Dyanna MoonBY ELLEN DONKER D I N G H ON MIF EThe family celebrates the opening of Lum's Cellars. L-R: Katherine and Robert Lumley-Sapanski (Jonathan's parents), Evelyn Suarez Monsalve holding Otto McLumski, Jack McLumski, Molly McGue and Jona-than Lumley-SapanskiM ollyat Mc- toWhat the couple values most about GueandtheirrelationshipwithMoonisthe Jon hantrust they share. Lumley-Sapanski says Lu m l e y - theirrelationshipneverfeelstransac-Sapanskitional.Dyannacomesprepared.She visited a lothas the answers to our questions. And ofhousesif she doesnt, her followup after the fact in a lot of different towns as first-timeis incredible. He adds, Shes not afraid homebuyers.Theirchangingcareerssay if something concerns her in a andintereststookthemtotheIron- home, and thats really positive.bound section of Newark, near where Molly was in medical school, as well asThe store, named Lums Cellars, has been open since June 2023. Months of towns west of Chatham. cleaning and renovations revealed tin ceilings and other original touches that Theyve been acquainted with Compass real estate agent Dyanna Moon sinceprobably harkened back to when the space functioned as the W.J. Denk grocery 2017 and joke that they dragged her to about 60 places before they decided on astore from 1933 to 1972. Moon has been no stranger. Lumley-Sapanski says, house in Morristown in 2019. I dont know how she had the patience for that,Weve done events at my store with a lot of her clients. Its very clear she didnt McGue says. just build that relationship through 60 houses with us, but its something that She has a wealth of knowledge, Lumley-Sapanski says, Being first-timeshe does with all of her clients. When she hosted a wine tasting, he says her cli-homebuyers, you see things and the prices are wildly different, and you dont re- ents showed up in droves. She builds that trust, and thats why shes successful.ally know what youre looking at. Moon guided them through the process andMcGue and Lumley-Sapanski are expecting their third child in November. answered all their questions along the way. Moon suggested they move to SOMA. Contemplating where to fit their addi-The decision to close on the house in Morristown coincided with the daytion, they looked at homes with Moon here during the past month. But they McGue, who was in residency, learned she was matched with a practice in thedecided to stay and renovate their Morris-same town. They were also expecting their first child. town home and resume their search in a few Meanwhile, Lumley-Sapanski, who had a career in wine sales, was itching toyears. McGue says, When you find a good launch his own businessperhaps a brewery or a wine shop. For that, he wouldneighborhood,itsreallyhardtoleaveall need a commercial location. When Lumley-Sapanski homed in on opening athose people that are supportive that have store that offered products from sustainable and ethical family-owned produc- been there for so many years. She also likes ers, he sought an available liquor license in a town with residents who wouldher seven-minute commute to work.support his mission.The couple count Moon as their friend He eventually found one in Maplewood with the closing of Kaspars Winesand someone with whom they can share a & Liquors on Springfield Avenue. Given what he knew about the town fromgoodlaugh,eveniftheyrenotcurrently Moon and other acquaintances, he decided it was the right place for his businesspursuing a new home. Its the little things, and asked Moon to facilitate the sale. It took a full year to do so. For each chal- such as a text with silly photos, that remindRealtor Dyanna Moon worked with the McGue/Lumley-Sapanski lenge, Lumley-Sapanski says, I would have no idea how to deal with it. [Moon]each other of the fun they had during theircouple to help them find both resi-was immensely helpful. 60-home journey.dential and commercial properties.36/ matters magazine / summer 2024"