To say the South Florida nightclub and restaurant scene would be a much more bland and boring place without Rodney Mayo and Scott Frielich would be a huge understatement. While Mayo was opening his long-established West Palm Beach nightclub and live music venue, Respectable Street, in the mid-80s, future business partner and friend, Frielich, was just relocating to the area from his home state of New Jersey to begin a career in the biz.
Nearly 20 years later -- and 10 places together -- Mayo and Frielich are co-owners of some of the area's hippest bars, hottest restaurant concepts and popular clubs -- with more in the works. Today, that list includes Longboards, Lost Weekend, Feelgood's Rock Bar, and Howley's in West Palm Beach; Dada, Tryst, and Delux in Delray Beach; Kapow! Noodle Bar in Boca Raton; Dubliner in Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale; The Vagabond in Miami; and Lost Weekend and Kill Your Idol in Miami Beach.
While both men have their roles, there's the understanding that Mayo is the creative visionary, while Frielich is the day-to-day guy that helps hold it all together. And with all that street cred, you'd be surprised to learn they're not your average restaurateurs. Get to know them, and you'll see they're two of the most down-to-earth people you'll ever meet -- a rarity in any industry these days. And that's why we've made them number three on our Tastemaker list.
