Est. 1977 · Los Angeles
Three Generations.
One Standard.
Brookhill Corp. is a premier institutional real estate investment and asset management firm headquartered in Los Angeles, founded in 1977 by David May II — grandson of May Department Stores founder David May I.
Our Heritage
From Department Stores
to Enduring Assets.
The Brookhill name traces back to the Brookhill Whiskey label, a legacy of the Friedman Keiler Company founded by the family of Anita Keiler May — the mother of David May II.
David May I founded the May Department Stores Company in 1877, which grew to own 324 department stores in 31 states. David May II — who served as Vice-Chairman — retired to apply that same institutional discipline to real estate. He is widely credited with pioneering the first department store anchored shopping centers.
Today, Brookhill continues that tradition — operating a diversified national portfolio with the same long-horizon perspective the family has exercised for generations.
Principles
What We Stand For
Generational Ownership
Three generations of the May family have stewarded Brookhill's capital. This continuity is not incidental — it is the foundation of every long-term decision we make.
Conservative Leverage
We do not over-leverage. Moderate debt ratios have protected this portfolio through every downturn since 1977, and they always will. Our equity comes first.
National Reach, Local Depth
With 50+ properties across 15 states, we combine the perspective of a national platform with the hands-on management discipline of a family-owned operator.
Long-Term Stewardship
Our investment horizon is generational. We are not managing to a fund cycle. We buy assets we would be proud to own for decades — and often do.
History
A Legacy in the Making
David May I founds the May Department Stores Company — which would grow to 324 stores in 31 states and become one of the oldest blue-chip stocks on the NYSE.
The Friedman Keiler Company — founded by the family of Anita Keiler May — establishes the Brookhill Whiskey label, a name that would later carry forward into real estate.
David May II, grandson of the founder and former Vice-Chairman of May Department Stores, retires to found Brookhill Corp. in Los Angeles. He is credited with pioneering the first department store anchored shopping centers.
Brookhill expands its portfolio across multiple asset classes and states, establishing a national footprint in multifamily, industrial, and retail.
May Department Stores merges with Federated Department Stores. Brookhill Corp., entirely independent, continues operating across its growing portfolio of properties.
Brookhill Corp. combines family ownership with in-house real estate investment and asset management. Founded in Los Angeles in 1977 by David May II, the firm now holds 50+ properties across 15 states, spanning multifamily, industrial, self-storage, retail, and development land. Three generations of stewardship connect that history to a long-term ownership approach: conservative leverage, active oversight, and investment decisions not constrained by a fund cycle. For property owners, brokers, and prospective partners, the acquisitions page sets out the firm's value-add and core-plus criteria, while the portfolio page describes how those principles apply to each asset class.