28 April 2020

How bad Mexican food started $200m pipeline

How bad Mexican food started $200m pipeline
Ever since he was caught selling basketball cards to his mates on the playground as a 12-year-old, Illan Samuel has been working on his hustle.

At 21, he bought his first property: a one-bedroom apartment off St Kilda Rd.

“I ate spaghetti for two weeks straight — it’s a lot of hard work and hustle and I think you’ve got to be really brave and have a plan,” Mr Samuel said.

Now 38 and managing director of his development firm Samuel Property, the former valuer isn’t sitting out the coronavirus pandemic on the sidelines.

With a property portfolio worth about $200 million, the company has completed projects across Melbourne’s east. Still in construction are boutique offerings in Toorak, Brighton and Hampton....