In this episode of The Distribution, Brandon Sedloff sits down with Jahan Moslehi to explore the long arc of building a retail real estate platform rooted in relationships, conviction, and operational discipline. Jahan shares his journey from immigrating to the US as a child to founding Bridge33 Capital, detailing how mentorship, trust, and hands-on execution shaped the firm’s growth. The conversation traces Bridge33’s evolution from its very first deal to a national portfolio, while unpacking why retail has proven far more resilient and misunderstood than many investors assume. Along the way, Jahan offers a candid look at scale, tenant relationships, and the realities of operating through multiple market cycles.
They discuss:
• How Bridge33 Capital was built from a single, highly challenged first deal into a national retail platform
• Why retail real estate is fundamentally a relationship-driven business and how scale changes competitive dynamics
• Lessons learned from mentorship, early conviction, and making decisions with imperfect information
• The operational intensity of retail and why hands-on ownership matters more than financial engineering
• Common misconceptions about retail and why select retailers and open-air centers continue to thrive
Links:
Jahan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jahan-moslehi-5ba04017/
Bridge33 Capital - https://www.bridge33capital.com/
Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/
Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/
Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:03:22) - Jahan's early life and immigration story
(00:04:44) - Academic journey and career shift
(00:06:43) - Entering the real estate sector
(00:08:45) - Founding Bridge33 Capital
(00:09:37) - Challenges and early successes
(00:29:01) - Unexpected success with leasing
(00:32:54) - Building Bridge33's portfolio
(00:38:13) - Expanding and raising funds
(00:46:31) - The importance of relationships in retail
(00:52:32) - Future of Bridge33 and retail insights
