Gene Mello

Gene Mello serves as the First Vice President & Director of Leasing for Matthews Real Estate Investment Services™, focusing on Southern California, specifically San Diego. He brings over 16 years of commercial real estate experience, successfully completing hundreds of transactions in his career. He has a proven track record in landlord leasing, tenant representation, and investment sales, including working on expansion or leasing assignments for tenants such as Ross Dress for Less, Burger King, Aldi Food Market, Super Star Car Wash, dd’s Discounts, Petco, Breakfast Republic, Dave’s Hot Chicken, SusieCakes, and more. His extensive knowledge, tireless work ethic, and expansive network of relationships have been incredibly beneficial as he’s consummated business across the Southeast, Midwest, and West Coast, with a primary focus on California within the last decade. Gene takes the time to understand his client’s goals, allowing him to formulate the best plan for their success. His market knowledge, strategic trade area analysis, and out-of-the-box thinking have been paramount in creating substantial value for his clients.

Prior to joining Matthews™, Gene was a real estate broker at Enduring Real Estate (formerly Epsteen & Associates/San Diego) where he specialized in consultation, negotiation, and strategy execution in California. He represented a strong stable of tenants and over 20 landlord clients consisting of national REITs, regional corporations, local mom and pop shop owners, and more.

Gene’s passion for real estate developed at a young age watching his father work firsthand at Anchor Properties, a premiere retail developer in the Midwest. He honed his skills during an internship at Colliers International followed by starting his career as a leasing agent at Phillips Edison & Company (one of the nation’s largest owner/operators of grocery anchored shopping centers).

B.B.A, Marketing, Real Estate
Ohio University

• 2024 – Chairman’s Award – Matthews™