Tag: Downtowners

Meet Jason Lakow. He grew up in West Palm Beach and attended Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in Downtown West Palm Beach. When he was 11, his family opened a restaurant in CityPlace which sparked his passion for the restaurant business. Since then, he has dedicated his career to the hospitality industry. After living in New York for several years, he and his wife moved back to Downtown West Palm Beach in 2014, where he became the General Manager at Café Boulud Palm Beach in the Brazilian Court Hotel. This is where he met his business partner Rick Mace — an accomplished executive chef whom he calls “the brains (and brawn!) behind our restaurants — including our Downtown West Palm Beach location, Tropical BBQ Market.”

How has being in Downtown West Palm Beach benefited business?

We have been so fortunate that the community has welcomed us. When we opened our Downtown location, Tropical BBQ Market, we wanted to create something that added value to the neighborhood. To us, that meant quick, healthy, fresh and accessible food for professionals and residents on the move.

What do you like most about Downtown West Palm Beach?

The energy is palpable here. It has a small-town feel in which everyone knows each other. Downtown West Pam Beach also manages to capture the energy of an emerging big city. It’s fun and very gratifying to operate in this neighborhood.

What do you do for fun in Downtown West Palm Beach?

We have a little one, so we have been spending a lot of time at some of our local parks. That aside, we do a ton of gardening. We collect rare plants and tropical fruit trees. We actually grow some of the produce for our cocktail bar, Juicy Cocktails, which is also in Downtown West Palm Beach right next to Tropical BBQ Market.

How has Downtown West Palm Beach evolved since you’ve been here?

Well, I have been around since the pre-CityPlace era, so Downtown West Palm Beach has gone through multiple redevelopments. It seems like every decade or so we have had a major change — and they’ve all been for the better. First, it was commerce. Then there was the residential boom. Now I think we are in an era of refinement and expansion. I think we will continue to see waves like this, which ultimately will expand the Downtown West Palm Beach area beyond what we think of as its current boundaries.

What would you say to someone considering a move to Downtown West Palm Beach?

We always tell people that Downtown West Palm Beach is the ideal mix of hustle and bustle — but with a vibe that also lets you slow down and enjoy your gorgeous surroundings. I think that’s part of what makes the Downtown West Palm Beach culture so unique here. We know how to work and play in our tropical paradise.

Meet Amelia Ostrosky, whose storied four-decade-long education career included stints as a principal at the elementary, middle and senior high school levels. She was the founding principal at Middle School of the Arts (now known as Bak Middle School of the Arts) and later served as principal of Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts — two schools widely considered to be the premiere educational gems in Palm Beach County. She’s also been a longtime resident of Downtown West Palm Beach, so she’s experienced firsthand its impressive growth.

How did you end up living in Downtown West Palm Beach?

When I was at Dreyfoos, I walked every morning at 5:30 a.m. with a group of staff members. One morning, my supervisor called me and said, “Amelia, there is going to be a new condo building Downtown and it is you!” His comment resonated with me, so after my walk that following Saturday, I checked out the sales office. Without hesitation, I walked in with my checkbook and placed a pre-construction deposit
on the Esplanade Grande. Three years later in April 2003, I moved in and never looked back.

What do you like most about living in Downtown West Palm Beach?

I love the vibrancy and the culture. I live within walking distance of Palm Beach Dramaworks and have the most beautiful view of the Intracoastal and the ocean, with beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The restaurants are great and I love visiting the bustling West Palm Beach
GreenMarket on Saturdays and going to the concerts on Sundays at the Meyer Amphitheater. And you can’t beat the convenience of being
so close to the airport, Brightline, Tri-Rail and Amtrak.

What do you do for fun in Downtown West Palm Beach?

When I’m not traveling with my partner Don Montano, I spend my time at The Yoga Society on Clematis Street. The Yoga Society has been a lifesaver for me as it has taught me to cherish the mind, body and soul. This studio overflows with positivity and challenges me physically and mentally.

How have you seen Downtown West Palm Beach evolve?

When I moved Downtown it was a city still finding its way. I enjoyed serving on the Downtown Development Authority board and the waterfront committee under the leadership of Lois Frankel, former Mayor of West Palm Beach. Over the two decades since I moved
here, Downtown West Palm Beach has become the place to be! Now we just have to manage our growth, so we can maintain our city’s
waterfront beauty and unmatched quality of life.