Inspiring African Story | How Adenah Bayoh Escaped Civil War in Liberia and Built a $225M Real Estate Portfolio in the United States of America

Adenah Bayoh’s amazing narrative begins as a Liberian refugee and ends with her becoming a force to be reckoned with in the American real estate sector.

At the age of thirteen, Adenah Bayoh managed to flee Liberia’s civil conflict. She is a living embodiment of the American dream. Many people have travelled to America from third-world countries in search of a better life; Adenah Bayoh’s tale is no exception. However, her indomitable spirit, which has been responsible for her enormous successes, maybe the lone difference.

Adenah grabbed the opportunity of an advanced education system when she arrived in America as a Liberian refugee. She went to a public school in New Jersey and then continued her studies at Fairleigh Dickson University, where she majored in Business Management. She was able to work part-time at McDonald’s while continuing her education. She also worked as a Resident Assistant during that time, which contributed significantly to her current success.

Adenah got a career in the financial industry after finishing her undergraduate studies. She was exposed to lucrative ventures as a result of her banking experience. Real Estates was one of these businesses. She fell in love with real estate and began investing in it gradually. Other businesses that piqued her interest include the food industry, which she has always had a talent for since she was a child. Her grandmother, who worked in the food industry herself, is claimed to have impacted her zeal.

She now owns three well-known IHOP restaurants in New Jersey, including ones in Newark, Paterson, and Irvington. She also oversees landed interests totalling more than $250 million.

Adenah Bayoh, a Liberian refugee who became a real estate entrepreneur, is responsible for Irvington’s second-largest food network. She’s also the founder of Cornbread, a food label tasked with the responsibility and goal of providing high-quality food to the suburbs. It revolves around the concept of organic farm-to-table food.

The former Liberian refugee recalls an event when she bought her first home in an interview (house). For the first six months after purchasing the house with all of her savings, she had no furniture. The real estate billionaire was said to have slept on the floor for six months.

She went even further, aiming to buy an IHOP restaurant franchise in 2007 when she was only 25 years old. She remembered a test. Despite her appealing business plan, the bank declined her financing six times. However, this challenge paled in comparison to that of a Liberian refugee. She persevered in the face of adversity.

When he overheard her discussing the challenge with a friend, an angel was waiting to grant a wish. At the age of 27, he handed her the exact amount she needed, making her the youngest African-American to own an IHOP franchise.

As a former Liberian refugee, Adenah recalls her impoverished beginnings. Even though she is now a real estate billionaire, she still helps those in need in Liberia, where she was born. She has provided work to many people who are less fortunate.

Adenah Bayoh, a Liberian refugee who became a real estate entrepreneur, has a long list of accomplishments, including being named to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Advisory Council on Small Business and Agriculture in January 2015. She was named to Ebony magazine’s Power 100 list. She was also named one of the Top 50 women in business by the newspaper NJBIZ in March 2014, and she was featured on the cover of the March 24th issue.