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Tropical BBQ Market in West Palm Beach Closes After 3-Year Run
The restaurant's closure reflects the competitive nature of the industry and the need for owners to make tough decisions.
Apr. 11, 2026 at 3:48am
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The closure of Tropical BBQ Market in West Palm Beach reflects the competitive nature of the restaurant industry and the need for owners to make tough decisions about where to focus their resources.Delray Beach TodayTropical BBQ Market, a downtown West Palm Beach restaurant owned by chef Rick Mace and his business partner Jason Lakow, has closed after serving its last meal on March 27, 2026. The restaurant, which opened in August 2023, was a spinoff of the popular Tropical Smokehouse brand and highlighted Florida and Caribbean flavors. Mace cited the immediate success of the newly opened Tropical Smokehouse location in Delray Beach as a key factor in the decision to close the West Palm Beach restaurant.
Why it matters
The closure of Tropical BBQ Market marks the end of a popular dining option in downtown West Palm Beach, as the city continues to see changes in its restaurant landscape. The decision to focus on the thriving Delray Beach location highlights the competitive nature of the restaurant industry, where owners must make tough choices about where to allocate their resources.
The details
Tropical BBQ Market was owned and operated by chef Rick Mace and his business partner Jason Lakow. The fast-casual restaurant served its last meal on March 27, 2026, after a three-year run in downtown West Palm Beach. Mace cited the immediate success of the newly opened Tropical Smokehouse location in Delray Beach as a key factor in the decision to close the West Palm Beach restaurant, saying the Delray location was outperforming the downtown West Palm Beach restaurant.
- Tropical BBQ Market opened in August 2023.
- Tropical BBQ Market served its last meal on March 27, 2026.
The players
Rick Mace
Chef and co-owner of Tropical BBQ Market and Tropical Smokehouse.
Jason Lakow
Business partner and co-owner of Tropical BBQ Market and Tropical Smokehouse.
Siobhan Mace
Wife of Rick Mace and manager of the catering operation at Tropical BBQ Market.
Tropical Smokehouse
The popular restaurant brand that Tropical BBQ Market was a spinoff of, with locations in West Palm Beach and Delray Beach.
Tropical BBQ Market
The fast-casual restaurant in downtown West Palm Beach that has now closed.
What they’re saying
“We have a location that's three years old and is still doing smaller sales volume than a store that's three months old.”
— Rick Mace, Chef and co-owner
“It's a sad moment in any restaurant when you have to do that. We're super proud of our team and in the food that we were cooking.”
— Rick Mace, Chef and co-owner
“You do right by people that have helped you along the way.”
— Rick Mace, Chef and co-owner
What’s next
Mace said they are still deciding whether any menu items from the downtown West Palm Beach restaurant will be brought to the other two Tropical Smokehouse locations.
The takeaway
The closure of Tropical BBQ Market highlights the competitive nature of the restaurant industry and the need for owners to make tough decisions about where to focus their resources. While it marks the end of a popular dining option in downtown West Palm Beach, the success of the Delray Beach Tropical Smokehouse location suggests the brand's overall strength.
