Meet Lisa Mercado of The Living Room Boynton Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Mercado.

Lisa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a teenager, I owned and operated a coat room in Philadelphia, it was there that I started to fall in love with the restaurant biz. I moved to Florida and worked at Country Clubs as a fitness director, activity coordinator, aerobics instructor but always found myself hanging out in the kitchens. In 1990, I married my husband whose family owned a small pub. I started working in the kitchen and soon was running the whole operation. We opened a second location in the early 90’s and in 2006, we sold the first location after 27 years and tried a new concept in the second location. It was received very well but the kitchen was inadequate to properly execute. We sold this location in July of 2009 after operating 16 years and opened The Living Room back in Boynton Beach. We have been here since 2009 and have expanded to open a sister pub/dessert room next store. It has a shared kitchen but has its own entrance, restrooms, bar, etc. making it the perfect spot for private parties. The Living Room offers live music, sofas, games and an extremely diverse menu with everything from cauliflower hushpuppies, sea bass, shepherd’s pie, cook your own s’mores and of course, our award-winning peanut butter pie!

Has it been a smooth road?
Anyone who says it has been a smooth road is doing this strictly as a hobby and does not need the $$$. I work 16-18 hours per day, seven days a week. On the days, we do close IE Christmas… the day is spent taking down decorations and putting up new ones for the next holiday. Struggles include hurricanes, staff and of course changes in prices due to floods, fire, etc.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Living Room Boynton Beach story. Tell us more about the business.
We are known for comfort food in a comfy setting with live music. I am most proud that I have a staff that loves to work here and even when they do move on they are still apart of my life. We have been invited to multiple weddings, etc.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
Winning best venue for local artists, peanut butter pie and cool hipster restaurant was definitely up there. BUT seeing a table of guests from the 80’s this year with their kids, grandkids, great grandkids (four generations)… is the best feeling in the world.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1709 North Congress Ave Boynton Beach FL 33426
• Website: livingroomboyntonbeach.com
• Phone: (561)742-4399
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: The Living Room Boynton Beach

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