Before Cleve Mash became one of Palm Beach County's nightclub and restaurant owners, he was just an 18-year-old boy manning the door at his favorite South Florida nightclub. Sure, he wasn't old enough to be a bouncer -- but no one else knew it. Back then, he imagined opening his own club in that very spot. And, after a lot of hard work and dedication, those dreams came true.
Mash began his career in the biz at the age of 26, opening the downtown West Palm Beach nightclub, the Monkeyclub, with investment money from his father.
It was a start that would help to grow a family of establishments that today includes the likes of Feelgood's Rock Bar, Dirty Martini, Bobbie Sue Bar-B-Que and the newest addition, JR's Buckwild Country Bar, set to open in the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott in the coming months.
The most influential person in my career has been... The most influential person in my life so far has been my father. He has been a role model for me not just in business but in life. He is not my biological father, but has raised me since I was three-years-old, and adopted me in the 7th grade, which is why my name changed from Cleve Tierney to Cleve Mash. He has taught me that any man can be a father, but a real man is a dad. He was my partner in my first nightclub called Monkeyclub, investing in my dream when I was just 26. He was hard on me in those early years to do things the right way at all times. He believed honesty, integrity and handwork were the foundation to long term success.
When I'm alone and in need of comfort (and no one is there to watch or judge), the one food or drink I turn to is... My guilty pleasure is pizza. There's something about pizza and a movie that just feels like a great night.
What does the Broward/Palm Beach food scene need more of? The Broward and Palm Beach County food scene needs more consumers -- hahaha! I think we have some amazing owner, managers and chefs in this area, and given the circumstances, if you can make it [here], I think it says a lot due to the fact that this is not a concentrated big city market. Hopefully we can continue to promote our area to big fortune 500 companies with our wonderful weather and low taxes.
You get to vote one food or beverage trend off the island forever -- what is it? I would have to say Patron. It would of saved me from a bunch of bad decisions
You have unlimited funds to open a restaurant or bar -- what's the name, and what do you serve? That's my secret.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In five years, I see myself married to my beautiful fiancée, coaching my kids in sports, expanding Mash Management Group from ownership and management of the restaurant and nightclub industry to include real estate brokerage and construction, as well.
Dream dinner party for six: Who (living or dead) are you inviting? No dream for me. I get to eat with those people every night.
New Times' Best Of Broward-Palm Beach 2013 issue arrives June 13. To celebrate, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up 30 of our favorite tastemakers -- restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, and other foodies who make the South Florida food scene what it is. We'll start with number 30 and lead up to South Florida's number one. All previous 2013 Tastemakers are listed below.
30. Robyn Almodovar of Palate Party Food Truck
29. Chris and Jordan Bellus of Laser Wolf
28. Fulvio Sardelli of Sardelli's Italian Steakhouse
27. Brett Chiavari of BC Tacos
26. Mike Halker of Due South Brewing
25. Chrissy Benoit of the Little House Boynton Beach
24. Dean Max of DJM Restaurants
22. Vaughan Lazar of Kapow!
21. Eric Guerro, Mark Fee, and Jeff Evans of Angry Union Brewing
20. Ben Lubin of The Blind Monk
18. Julieta Bocos of Casa Frida
16. Frank Coniglio of E.R. Bradley's Saloon
15. Iliya Dimitrov of Valentino's Cucina Italiana
14 Tim Lipman of Coolinary Cafe
13. Lauren DeShields of Market 17
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