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Real estate mogul and YouTube personality Ben Mallah epitomizes a classic rags-to-riches story. Raised in the projects of Queens, New York, he defied the odds to build a $500 million real estate empire.
Mallah’s journey began with a sharp eye for overlooked opportunities, starting in “the tough neighborhoods of Oakland” where he invested in properties “nobody else wanted.”
Today, Mallah’s empire has evolved far beyond those humble beginnings.
During his appearance on The Iced Coffee Hour podcast with Graham Stephan and Jack Selby, Mallah described the backbone of his current portfolio: “Today, we’re sitting on a very large portfolio of what I like to call ‘necessity real estate,’ or ‘essential real estate.’”
He elaborated further, explaining, “I like retail, but I like retail that the internet can't hurt, Amazon can't hurt. I like food, I like necessity services like hair, nails, food, good, strong restaurants, dentists, medical… things that people can't go online and accomplish.”
Mallah shared that while he had opportunities to invest in shopping malls, he deliberately chose not to due to the inherent risks associated with them.
Instead, he gravitated toward necessity real estate, which he finds far more appealing. “I had opportunities to buy shopping malls, and I didn’t do it because I was afraid of them,” Mallah admitted. “But I like this stuff,” he added, referring to the essential real estate properties that form the cornerstone of his portfolio.
As e-commerce continues to disrupt traditional retail, Mallah’s focus on essential, in-person services offers a blueprint for resilience. By investing in businesses tied to basic needs, he’s built a portfolio that stands strong against the forces reshaping the consumer landscape. And the best part? You don’t need $500 million to start adopting Mallah’s proven strategy for yourself.
Investing in grocery-anchored real estate offers a significant advantage for savvy investors: stability.
Think about your go-to supermarket — the one you visit every week. How long has it been in the same spot? Likely for years, if not decades. That consistency highlights the appeal of this sector.
