The Downtowners – Jason Lakow, owner of Tropical BBQ Market
September 26th, 2024
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.