Meet Michelle Lefkowitz | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle Lefkowitz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My husband and I wanted to build a life together where we did something everyday that we were passionate about. The philosophy being that if you do something you enjoy everyday, then you will enjoy your life more.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was born and raised in a family of entrepreneurs. I worked for my family’s mortgage company while I was finishing up school at Cleveland State University with my degree in communications and marketing. I was applying strategies I was learning in school to my families business, and seeing amazing results. When the mortgage business started to fade away, I found myself helping other people with small businesses marketing and branding. I started my own consulting company when I was 26 years old. I worked with restaurants, new home builders and plastic surgeons, and enjoyed helping them brand, develop strategies and grow their businesses. Fast-forward to 2012 when a client of mine from Ohio was opening up a restaurant in Delray Beach FL, Salt7. I was on the concept development team and opening team for this now Delray Beach nightlife and restaurant icon. Thats when I started visiting the area. My husband and I, (now married 17 years and have 2 girls 12 & 16) always knew we wanted to be in business for ourselves. We wanted the American Dream, wanted to find what we were most passionate about and build a business around that. We developed the Salute market concept based upon the belief that everyone eats, drinks and enjoys life, and that if you do something you are passionate about everyday then you build the life you want to live. We always wanted to live by the beach and palm trees, and after seeing Delray and Palm Beach County, we fell in love. It has not been easy. When we first opened we thought we would be more fast casual and tog-go business driven, but we also knew that we had 6 revenue streams and we could build up or adapt the business model at any point and move the concept in that direction. After 6 months, we were fully converted to a full service sit down restaurant and have never looked back! Planting new seeds in a community was the most important part for us. We studied Palm beach County and picked Palm Beach Gardens. We wanted to live in the community, our kids go to school in the community and we own and operate our business in he same community. Salute Market is a restaurant first, but once you connect with us, eat our food, drink our wine and meet our staff, then you enter the Salute Market brand. We host all kinds of parties, cater business meetings, host wine tastings and have live music! Any wine or cocktail you enjoy here at Salute you can purchase and enjoy at home! The Salute brand and family is the fabric of who we are and we are proud! in all of the brands I have ever helped create or develop, I have never seen such an amazing level of loyalty or buy in as I have from our customers!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
well this happens all the time so Day 1 – lets head up to UTiki & Jettys for Jupiter on the water fun, food and drinks, lets take the pontoon boat out at sunset while we enjoy a glass of wine! Day 2 – Lion Country Safari then Panther Ridge Sanctuary. Its a double header, but worth it because we are out that way. We will be exhausted afterwards, stopping for lunch in between somewhere in wellington. bed early because beach day tomorrow! Day 3 – Hilton Beach Club – a locals and tourist favorite, the guests may be staying with me but the Beach Club makes it feel even more like vacation! lunch from Coconuts, the fish tacos are awesome and the burger never disappoints! After this day in the sun, we will head home for showers and freshen up for dinner at Salute Market, and stay for live music with Mike Sanchez on the patio! Day 4 – shopping at Gardens Mall and Downtown at the gardens. We will stop for drinks and a bite to eat at a few restaurants including Le Bouchon, Voo-Doo Bayu and Avocado Cantina! Finishing the day with a Movie at Cobb theater at Downtown! Day 5 – Poolside at The Clubhouse at Evergrene, the community we have lived for 6 years! sun, fun, tiki bar and THE BEST CHICKEN WINGS! Dinner Tonight = Tally Thai Day 6 – we rented a boat! heading out of Jupiter Marina and touring along the inter-coastal down to Peanut Island! we will spend the day anchored off the little island and paddle boarding. When we are ready we will take the boat over to Sailfish Marina for delish raw bar and a beautiful sunset! Day 7 – Brunch at the Breakers!!!!!! Palm Beach Island tour and visit of the iconic little island! Go home tan, well fed and with a little hangover!!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
John DiJulius is an author and motivational speaker. His framework is “The Relationship Economy”, understanding customer service and elevating experience, making price irrelevant and brand ambassadors loyal.

Website: www.Salute2u.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sa.lutemarket/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/salutemarket
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/salute-market-palm-beach-gardens