Tropical Smokehouse Closes Downtown West Palm Beach Outlet

Fans of the popular barbecue restaurant must now visit other locations to get their fix.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:13am

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeated image of a barbecue sandwich, conceptually representing the loss of a popular local restaurant.The closure of a beloved downtown barbecue restaurant highlights the challenges of maintaining multiple locations, even for popular eateries.West Palm Beach Today

Tropical BBQ Market, a beloved barbecue restaurant in downtown West Palm Beach owned by chef Rick Mace and his business partner Jason Lakow, has closed its doors after serving its final meal on Friday. The owners cited lower sales volume at the downtown location compared to newer outlets as the reason for the closure.

Why it matters

The closure of Tropical BBQ Market's downtown West Palm Beach location is a significant loss for the local dining scene, as the restaurant had built a loyal following for its high-quality barbecue and unique tropical flavors. The decision to shutter this outlet highlights the challenges that even popular restaurants can face in maintaining multiple locations, especially when newer outposts start to outperform older ones.

The details

Tropical BBQ Market had been a fixture in downtown West Palm Beach, serving up its signature smoked meats, tropical-inspired sides, and craft cocktails. However, the owners noted that the downtown location's sales volume had consistently lagged behind that of newer Tropical Smokehouse outlets, leading them to make the difficult decision to close it down.

  • Tropical BBQ Market served its final meal on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The restaurant had been operating in downtown West Palm Beach for several years prior to its closure.

The players

Rick Mace

The chef and co-owner of Tropical BBQ Market.

Jason Lakow

The business partner and co-owner of Tropical BBQ Market.

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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, Co-owner

What’s next

The owners of Tropical BBQ Market have not announced any immediate plans to open a new location in downtown West Palm Beach, but they will continue to operate their other Tropical Smokehouse outlets in the area.

The takeaway

The closure of Tropical BBQ Market's downtown West Palm Beach location serves as a reminder that even successful restaurants can face challenges in maintaining multiple locations, especially when newer outposts start to outperform older ones. This highlights the importance of carefully evaluating market conditions and customer demand when expanding a restaurant business.