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Meet Angela Poco, who recently became the City of West Palm Beach’s new Marketing & Community Events Manager. Originally from Chicago, she’s always had a passion for events and has turned that passion into her lifelong career. She has owned her own catering business and planned events nationwide — and now does so for the city she calls home. She and her husband have three adult children and two grandsons.

How did you end up in Downtown West Palm Beach?

It was definitely fate. When I moved here in 2002 to be closer to my mom — and escape the cold — I started attending Clematis by Night on Thursdays. One Thursday night, while my daughter played and my mom and I were talking, my mom asked me what I planned to do for work now that I was here. I jokingly said, “This!” referring to the event we were enjoying so much. I think I was always meant to be in West Palm Beach.

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

I love that Downtown West Palm Beach is the perfect mix of arts, culture, great food, and unbeatable views. There’s always something happening. Whether it’s seeing an incredible performance at Dramaworks, or exploring the restaurant scene, or enjoying the waterfront, the city’s energy is hard to beat!

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

My friends, family, and I are all about great food and good times. We love grabbing a meal at some of our favorite spots like Pistache for a classic French bistro vibe, Elisabetta’s for amazing Italian, Lynora’s for the best meatballs, and Avocado Grill for fresh, creative small
plates. After dinner, we’ll often find ourselves at an event or mix things up with a paint-and-sip night — that’s always a fun way to get creative and unwind. There’s never a shortage of great places to eat or things to do, which is why we love it here!

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

Downtown West Palm Beach looked completely different when I moved here in 2002. Over the years, the city has shifted, constantly evolving into the vibrant, thriving destination it is today. Currently, we’re in the middle of another transformation, with new developments, businesses, and energy shaping downtown’s future. With that growth comes incredible opportunities to think creatively about events. People aren’t just looking for things to do; they want experiences and moments they can share with friends and family. I’m super excited to see what’s next and how we can continue to create unforgettable events in this ever-changing city. We are so fortunate to live and work in paradise, and there’s no better time to be in Downtown West Palm Beach.

Meet acclaimed restaurateur Thierry Beaud, who opened PISTACHE French Bistro on Clematis Street in Downtown West Palm Beach in 2008. Beaud was born and raised in Bordeaux, France and has both owned and managed several legendary eateries in South Florida. He
has two adult children — daughter Sophie, who followed in his footsteps to work in the hospitality industry, and son Remi, who recently graduated from Florida State University and shares the same birthday with Beaud.

How did you end up in Downtown West Palm Beach?

I’ve worked all over South Florida, and my career path brought me to Palm Beach County. I always had the dream to open a restaurant influenced by my French upbringing. When the opportunity presented itself in Downtown West Palm Beach along the beautiful Intracoastal,
I could see that dream coming to life, and in 2008, PISTACHE French Bistro was born.

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

It’s hard to narrow it down to one thing I like most. The Downtown area is a growing
neighborhood, pedestrian-friendly, with a strong community feel. Every year is marked with wonderful events that bring people from
near and far to Downtown West Palm Beach. Some of my favorite events include the West Palm Beach GreenMarket, the Palm Beach International Boat Show and 4th on Flagler. Being a part of that, year after year makes Downtown West Palm Beach a very special place to work and play.

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

Some of my favorite things to do around Downtown West Palm Beach include dining with friends — there are so many great restaurants within just a few blocks of each other — as well as bike-riding along the waterfront, seeing a live show at Palm Beach Dramaworks and visiting local art galleries. We have so many cultural, artistic and entertainment options within walking distance here.

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

Downtown West Palm Beach has always felt like a special place to me. It’s the proximity to the water, community events and various activities that gave Downtown West Palm Beach its unique identity. I have been here in the Downtown District for more than 20 years and the evolution has been remarkable. People now work just steps from where they live. There are services and restaurants and shopping to support a growing, lively population. And Brightline has opened up Downtown West Palm Beach to so many more people from around the region, making our special area a true destination. This has brought new customers to our restaurant, and all of the surrounding businesses, and I believe this trend will continue.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (May 15, 2025) – The International Downtown Association (IDA) has selected Sabrina Lolo, Marketing Coordinator for the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (WPB DDA), and another 26 of the industry’s brightest professionals for its 2025 Emerging Leader Fellowship (ELF) program. These senior staff members hail from 15 states and provinces from around North America including West Palm Beach, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Charlotte, NC; Cleveland, OH; Austin, TX; Boulder, CO; Lethbridge, AB; Bellingham, WA; San Fransico, CA. Alumni of the IDA Emerging Leader Fellowship program, launched in 2016, are fast becoming sought-after leaders for the future of city building worldwide. 

“The success of our Fellowship program underscores how critical this training is to our growing industry,” said David Downey, President & CEO of IDA. “This is the only program of its kind created specifically for urban place management professionals. IDA is looking to further illustrate the importance of our industry by elevating leaders with the necessary skills to champion inclusive city building. Professional development remains a hallmark of IDA.”  

The Emerging Leader Fellowship is a week-long experiential program bringing together a cohort of IDA professionals from within the urban district management industry. The fellows learn essential leadership and place management skills and gain practical tools in the areas of place-based economic development, the live-work-play experience, and public-private partnerships. 

“It’s an honor to be selected for the 2025 Emerging Leader Fellowship,” said Lolo. “I’m excited to learn from peers across the country and build on the knowledge I’ve gained with the WPB DDA. This opportunity will help me bring forward-thinking, inclusive ideas that support Downtown West Palm Beach’s continued growth as a vibrant, accessible, and thriving hub for our residents, visitors, and businesses.” 

Lolo is the latest WPB DDA team member selected for the ELF program. Prior fellows from the WPB DDA include Executive Director Teneka James-Feaman; Marketing Director Tiffany Faublas; Public Realm Director Sherryl Muriente; and District Services Manager Catherine Ast.  

“The International Downtown Association is looking to build the future of our industry, and these accomplished executives are the rising stars of our profession,” said Downey. “With this program, we’re educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders.”  

The program, which takes place June 8-13, 2025, in New York City, features technical in-the-field training by place management organization (PMO) professionals and field visits from local business improvement district (BID) leaders at various locations throughout Manhattan.   

Congratulations to the 2025 Emerging Leader Fellowship cohort! For more information about this year’s cohort, visit IDA’s website. 

About the Downtown Development Authority    
The West Palm Beach DDA is an independent taxing district created in 1967 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. Its mission is to promote and enhance a safe, vibrant Downtown for our residents, businesses and visitors through the strategic development of economic, social and cultural opportunities.  For more information about the DDA or Downtown West Palm Beach, please visit DowntownWPB.com or call the DDA at (561) 833-8873.   

About the International Downtown Association 
The International Downtown Association is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. Our members are downtown champions who bring urban centers to life, bridging the gap between the public and private sectors. We represent an industry of more than 2,500 place management organizations, employing 100,000 people throughout North America and growing rapidly around the world. Founded in 1954, IDA is a resource center for ideas and innovative best practices in urban place management. For more information, visit downtown.org. 

Meet Rosie Hanson, the co-owner of Garden District Taproom in Downtown West Palm Beach. A lifelong Floridian, she grew up and attended college in Gainesville. She taught in public schools for eight years before resigning in 2021 and, along with her husband Josh (with whom she is raising their young son), opened Garden District Taproom.

How did you end up in Downtown West Palm Beach?

After looking at several different locations for our taproom, we ultimately settled on the perfect little slice of Downtown. We fell in love with the natural light in the unit, along with the beautiful outdoor space. We knew Downtown would be the perfect place for our business because of the bustling atmosphere and heavy foot traffic. I couldn’t tell you how many people duck into our spot after walking by and having their curiosity piqued. We knew our business would thrive Downtown, as opposed to other locations.

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

I love that there is always something going on to draw people here. I love that it’s a destination — and not just for tourists but also for all South Florida residents. On the flip side of that, I love that Downtown has a large (and always growing) number of residents. It’s such a great mix of residential and commercial, which brings every demographic together. I love that it feels like a closeknit community — but also has some big city vibes.

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

I love to grab a coffee and a pastry from Johan’s Joe or Subculture with my son and walk to the amazing Mandel Public Library, where we often spend hours. When my sister comes to visit, she loves staying at the Canopy by Hilton West Palm Beach Downtown hotel, and we really enjoy catching up over drinks at Treehouse. We also love to grab dinner at Kapow, or, for a quicker bite, Keese’s.

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

Even in the short time we’ve been Downtown, the growth has been undeniable. Massive apartment buildings and office buildings have gone up. Countless businesses have opened. The Square has gone back to its roots as CityPlace. And one of the most exciting changes has been the influx of young professionals. They are flocking to our area, and I feel like Downtown is becoming a fun and trendy destination. I can envision Downtown growing even more in the coming decade, and Clematis getting a makeover to match revitalized vibe of CityPlace, and the waterfront developing into a beautiful family-friendly destination for everyone to enjoy.

Study from Marshall Marketing shows that residents and visitors overwhelmingly view Downtown West Palm Beach as fun, appealing, and safe 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (April 17, 2025) — Downtown West Palm Beach’s (DowntownWPB) reputation as a fun and exciting destination continues to rise as local residents, particularly young professionals moving into the region, conveyed overwhelming satisfaction with the area’s dining, entertainment, safety, and appeal. This was the conclusion of a recent study commissioned by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to gauge resident experiences and overall sentiments about enjoying the downtown West Palm Beach way of life. 

The study was conducted by Marshall Marketing in November 2024 and asked 800 residents 18 or older in Palm Beach, Martin, Saint Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties about their visits to DowntownWPB over the past year.  

Marshall asked respondents to give their opinions on entertainment, dining, safety, and lifestyle aspects of DowntownWPB. Topline findings from this questioning included: 

When respondents who visited DowntownWPB three or more times in the past year were asked to rate their satisfaction with specific experiences in DowntownWPB, the vast majority gave EXCELLENT rankings for the following:

• Restaurants (70%) 
• Landscaping / curb appeal (68%) 
• Entertainment (62%) 
• Feeling safe (60%) 
• Cleanliness (54%) 

60% of those surveyed had visited DowntownWPB at least once in the past year, with 33% having visited 3 or more times. 

Respondents who visited DowntownWPB most often represented white collar and women professionals (60%) and Singles/Achievers (44%) demographics. 

While “Excellent” satisfaction ratings increased across all categories with both first-time and frequent visitors when compared to the 2023 survey, the largest satisfaction jump was with respondents’ appreciation of DowntownWPB’s Security Ambassadors, which increased by 12%.  

DowntownWPB’s high marks from residents comes on the heels of the City of West Palm Beach being named the winner of 2025 Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice® Best of the Best Awards for Destinations, which recognized the best places to travel based on reviews and ratings by travelers. 

“The survey findings echo what we hear time and again from locals and visitors alike: the more time you spend in Downtown West Palm Beach, the more there is to love,” said DDA Executive Director Teneka James-Feaman. “Whether it’s our top-class dining and entertainment scene, or the artistic and well-maintained public spaces, the survey results are a testament to the successful lifestyle programming, civic initiatives, and beautification efforts that the DDA and our partners have undertaken to cement Downtown West Palm Beach as a hub of enjoyment for all who spend time here.” 

Among other findings: 

• New Resident Influx: Residents who have lived in the region for five years or less now account for nearly one-fifth of the population. 

• Youth Movement: Demographic groups identified as Singles (Adults 18-54) and Achievers (College Graduate Adults 25-64) are the second and third-most populous resident groups in the West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce market, accounting for 19% and 17% of the local population, respectively. 

“As more finance companies establish a presence in Downtown West Palm Beach, the professionals and new residents they attract to our region are not only boosting our economy – they’re redefining what it means to live, work, and thrive here,” James-Feaman added. “Just as we take stock of out-of-town visitor feedback, this survey helps us understand what truly resonates with those who experience downtown daily. It allows the DDA and our partners to invest with purpose – creating a downtown that grows with its people and becomes even more magnetic for both talent and businesses.” 

For more information about the DDA or Downtown West Palm Beach, please visit DowntownWPB.com or call the DDA at (561) 833-8873.  

About the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority     

The West Palm Beach DDA is an independent taxing district created in 1967 by a special act of the Florida Legislature. Its mission is to promote and enhance a safe, vibrant Downtown for our residents, businesses and visitors through the strategic development of economic, social and cultural opportunities. 

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Media contact: Tony Theissen
rbb Communications
[email protected]