Dreams Don't Die: The Story of a Man on a Mission to Inspire a Generation of Dreamers - Hardcover

by Izek Shomof (Author)

Immigrant. Dropout. Entrepreneur. Restauranter. Real estate developer. Movie producer. Philanthropist.

These are only a few titles Izek Shomof, the so-called King of Spring Street, has carried throughout his fascinating life. Each of these monikers tells a part of Izek's unbelievable tale, but the whole story has never been told--until now.

Dreams Don't Die is not your typical, run-of-the-mill immigrant story. It is the memoir of a man who had every opportunity to take unethical and often-illegal shortcuts but who instead chose the lesser-trod path of honesty and integrity. It's the story of a young man who poured his blood, sweat, and tears into the city he loved, transforming not only buildings but lives in the process--starting with his own.

From serving drinks in backroom Israeli casinos to buying an entire city block of downtown Los Angeles, Izek's life has been anything but traditional. Between flipping burger joints, building tract homes, and renovating historic California high-rises, Izek has come face-to-face with some particularly problematic elements of his family tree--including organized crime, Mob enforcers, hit men, drug cartels, bank robbers, and history-making embezzlement schemes. The sordid adventures of Izek's family have even become the subject of not one but two film productions--a major Hollywood motion picture starring James Caan and a blockbuster Israeli documentary series. Izek's life proves that even in the face of dream-killing obstacles, with hard work, steadfastness, and tenacity, dreams don't have to die.

Author Biography

Izek Shomof, founder and CEO of The Shomof Group, is known for his dedication to rebuilding downtown LA's historic core district while also working toward solving the homeless crisis plaguing Los Angeles. Izek has built a reputable real estate development portfolio and has overseen the redevelopment of iconic Los Angeles properties.

The combination of Izek's love for real estate development and his mission to address homelessness has led to his dream project of redeveloping the historic Sears Distribution Building, which is planned to be developed into The Life Rebuilding Center. It will provide 2,500 beds as well as 250,000 square feet of area for supportive services. A dedicated philanthropist, he remains actively involved in Los Angeles's Downtown Center Business Improvement District plus supporting Larger than Life, which is helping kids with cancer and bringing hope to their families.

Izek boldly uses his life story to inspire others to follow their dreams despite their obstacles. He has taken his story to the big screen by producing a blockbuster film based on his life titled For the Love of Money, which featured award-winning actors James Caan and Edward Furlong.