Ben Boscaccy is walking his way through Germantown
Ben Boscaccy, a 27-year-old Germantown native, is in the middle of a six-month mission to walk to every single home in Germantown. The husband and father’s mission is part marketing experiment, part fitness journey, and all centered around his love for the Germantown community. “I just wanted to find a way to connect even more with Germantown that wasn’t salesy,” Ben says. “When I first had the idea, I liked that it was something authentic, something active, and hopefully something people could look forward to,” he says.
Equipped with his sneakers, a growing TikTok presence, and handwritten notes, Ben, who works in real estate, has made it his goal to visit all the homes in the city over the next six months, logging around three miles and 6,000 steps a day. Along the way, he films the experience for social media, leaves notes for his neighbors, and slowly but surely becomes a familiar figure on Germantown streets. “I started walking a lot during the pandemic,” Ben says. “Gyms were closed, and I needed a low-impact way to stay active. Walking became my go-to, usually around three miles a day with my dog, which got me out of the house and also helped me de-stress and decompress. Now it’s kind of how I operate. Even if I have a phone meeting or a call with a client, I find it easier to focus and lock in when I’m walking,” he says.
Ben’s natural restlessness and love for movement began during his childhood, when he grew up playing basketball and football, and spent all his free time outdoors. After sports ended in high school, he took up weightlifting, but soon started dealing with injuries. “My focus shifted from how I looked to how I felt, and how long I could stay healthy. I found the best way to be through walking,” he says. Ben’s idea to take on his walking challenge began after he completed a triathlon in June, when he felt a bit aimless in his fitness and decided he needed a new challenge. “Walking every street in Germantown felt like a cool, simple idea that could serve multiple purposes between growing my business, staying fit, and bringing positive exposure to the greater Memphis area online,” he says.
The reaction has been better than he ever expected. “Honestly, I thought I’d be seen as pretty dorky at first,” Ben laughs. “But people recognize me from the videos, and they comment on where they want me to go next,” he says. While his recognition on TikTok is growing, Ben’s purpose isn’t to achieve viral fame. “It’s more about consistency and connection. If I can walk and post every day, and talk to people, that’s a win for me,” he says. Though he does not know how his experiment will turn out yet, he hopes others see it as a reminder that you don’t need to do something flashy to make an impact. You just need to show up and move one step at a time.
Keep up with Ben on TikTok @15khouses.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
