1 Feb, 2025 @ 12:00
2 mins read

Gibraltar business titan Abe Massías dies aged 88, leaving legacy of landmark developments and philanthropy

GIBRALTAR property mogul and entrepreneur Abraham ‘Abe’ Massías, the visionary behind some of the Rock’s most iconic developments, passed away on January 28 at the age of 88.

Born into humble beginnings in 1936 to a Hebrew family whose Gibraltar roots stretch back to 1713, Massías rose from sharing a cramped bedroom with three others to become one of Gibraltar’s most successful businessmen.

His impressive portfolio includes the development of the ICC shopping centre in Gibraltar’s urban core, the Both Worlds apartment complex, and perhaps most notably, bringing the Eroski supermarket chain to Gibraltar – now boasting five locations across the territory.

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Abraham ‘Abe’ Massías (right) with a scarf of his beloved Sevilla

The story of Gibraltar’s first Eroski supermarket perfectly encapsulates Massías’s business approach. After legal issues prevented his original plans for a hotel near the airport, he pivoted to the idea of a supermarket – despite never having set foot in one himself. 

His son Solomon recounts how his father simply flew to London, visited a couple of supermarkets to understand their operation, and declared ‘let’s build one.’

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Despite failing his secondary school exams, Massías’s determination led him to pass four A-levels in just one year, earning a government scholarship to study Engineering in London. 

During his studies, he worked as a porter at Victoria Station to supplement his scholarship, which barely covered his rent.

Abe and his enormous extended family, which consists of his wife, six children, and 24 grandchildren

His engineering expertise later took him to Spain, where he worked on dams in Pontevedra and cooling towers in the north – structures that reportedly still stand today while others from the same era have crumbled.

Known for his analytical mind and impulsive nature, Massías was equally renowned for his generous spirit, particularly towards the Moroccan workers who arrived in Gibraltar following Franco’s border closure in 1969. 

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He also donated 8,200 square meters of land in La Línea for a school project, though he preferred to keep such philanthropic gestures anonymous.

An old school photo, can you spot Abe? He is in the centre with the letter ‘E’ on his chest

A proud Sephardic Jew, Massías maintained a peculiar connection to Sevilla FC, believing his ‘ancient soul’ had lived in Sevilla during the Inquisition. 

This spiritual connection drew him repeatedly to the Andalusian capital.

Massías is survived by his wife, who family members credit as the stabilising force behind his success, six children, and 24 grandchildren. 

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Abe was responsible for bringing the Eroski supermarket brand to Gibraltar

His son Solomon also highlighted the important role of Manuel, his father’s caregiver for the last eight years, who was both ‘brother and partner in crime during the good times.’

From humble beginnings to becoming one of Gibraltar’s most influential developers, Abe Massías’s legacy lives on through his developments that have shaped modern Gibraltar, his philanthropic contributions, and most importantly, according to his family, through his extensive lineage of six children and twenty-four grandchildren.

Walter Finch

Walter Finch, who comes from a background in video and photography, is keen on reporting on and investigating organised crime, corruption and abuse of power. He is fascinated by the nexus between politics, business and law-breaking, as well as other wider trends that affect society.
Born in London but having lived in six countries, he is well-travelled and worldly. He studied Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and earned his diploma in journalism from London's renowned News Associates during the Covid era.
He got his first break in the business working on the Foreign News desk of the Daily Mail's online arm, where he also helped out on the video desk.
He then decided to escape the confines of London and returned to Spain in 2022, having previously lived in Barcelona for many years.
He took up up a reporter role with the Olive Press Newspaper and today he is based in La Linea de la Concepcion at the heart of a global chokepoint and crucial maritime hub, where he edits the Olive Press Gibraltar edition.
He is also the deputy news editor across all editions of the newspaper.

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