I smuggled some smokes and folks from Mexico
Baked by the sun every time I go to Mexico
And I'm still...willin’
Lowell George
Lowell George was the lead singer and slide guitarist for the band Little Feat. His song “Willin’” is about a trucker, who despite continuous setbacks, is willing to keep moving.
Spend any time in the real estate business and you’ll appreciate the lyrics:
Well, I've been kicked by the wind, robbed by the sleet
Had my head stoved in, but I'm still on my feet
And I'm still willin'
Lowell loved Mexico, and so should any self-respecting real estateur. There’s plenty to learn from our friends to the south, but here’s an edited list of how Mexico dominates the world - and how we can co-opt their creations:
Food
The food in Mexico is no joke. The good stuff is found in stalls, prepared by a weathered, smiling face.
Mexican ingenuity brought us Mayan calendars, almanacs, X-ray microscopes, umbrellas, lowrider cars, birth control pills, color television, and 3D robotics.
But Mexico’s finest hour arrived with the invention of chilaquiles - and the subsequent normalization of nachos for breakfast:
Churros are proof that God loves us, and Mexico is a glimpse of heaven:
Color
Mexico feels vivid - with colors so bold they’d be preposterous anywhere else.
Edge
A century ago, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo birthed an art scene unique in its bite. With time, things have only gotten more savage.
Squares
Mexico’s masterful creation of public squares show us how design can create energy, even with a small portion of land:
Theirs reflect civic pride:
Many have a perimeter knee wall with perfect dimensions for sitting, flanked by a covered arcade perfect for strolling:
A clipped tree canopy provides a roof over the square and benches attract people-watchers:
Shoeshines, a bandstand, and a cathedral:
Dogs
Unlike the neurotic designer dogs of America, Mexican dogs have swagger. Unbothered by their disproportionate muttness, they carry on like they own the place.
“El Perrito”.
A real estateur recipe:
Combine the following, in any ratio, in an urban Cuisinart:
Simple food with complex flavors
Vivid, contrasting colors
Bold art
Public space bordered by shops
Lazy dogs
A thriving place will result - a powerful catalyst for surrounding properties.
And if increased interest rates torpedo the deal, just be willin’ to keep moving.
Thank you for reading Asphalt Jungle - if you’re passionate about transformative real estate development, apply to join AUTOMATIC - a gathering for real estate developers interested in making wonderful places and the innovative retail & hospitality brands, designers, contractors, and capital providers that bring those places to life.
AUTOMATIC is coming to TEXAS
Join us in Houston on May 7 & 8th and hang with innovators like:
Superica
Tootsies
Scarlet Capital
Radom Capital
Alamo Drafthouse
Flower Child
Yonder Yoga
Heim BBQ
Sorelle Capital
El Carlos
Culinary Dropout
Triten Real Estate Partners
Dunmoor
Hot Joy
Uchi
Little Death
HomeState
Three Littles
Deal Co.
Ojo de Agua
Local Foods
Hamsa
Dish Society
The Rustic
Asana Partners
Saint Arnold
Loro
Pop Mart
Many more
“AUTOMATIC is the snowball before the avalanche - it’s good shit”
Nico Marin, Pinewood Social
**follow along on LinkedIn , Twitter (X) and Instagram