Marlo Jackson

General Manager

For Marlo, hospitality is what makes a moment memorable. It's the feeling of being at home, the reason guests come back, and the "aha" moment of awe that first drew her into the industry. As Ro Hyde Park's new General Manager, she brings more than a decade of experience from New York City to Tampa Bay, and a simple belief: every guest is a guest in our home.

Marlo started as a host at 16 and has since worked nearly every position in a restaurant. In New York, she ran restaurants in the West Village and Gramercy Park, including a role as Assistant General Manager of Sotto 13. After moving to Florida, she joined the Birchwood team and helped open Teak on the St. Pete Pier. From there, she became Director of Operations for a multi-unit group, where building a wine program deepened her love of wine and led her to Sea Salt, home to one of the largest wine collections in Tampa Bay. She then became Managing Partner of Noble Tavern in downtown St. Petersburg. After years in St. Pete, and with fine dining growing fast across the region, Marlo was ready for a new atmosphere, new people, and a new challenge, and that took her over the bridge to Ro.

What drives her is hospitality in its fullest form. Marlo sees it as an equal-sided triangle of food, service, and atmosphere. Without all three, the experience falls short. With all three, it becomes something guests remember. As a leader, she leads by example and with empathy, never forgetting where she started. She loves training and coaching, and she believes today's leaders have a responsibility to raise the next generation of managers as Tampa Bay continues to grow.4

With her team, her touch is empathy. With her guests, it's connection. Marlo is big on guest interaction. She wants guests to feel welcome, to be known by name, and to keep coming back. Building regulars and a true sense of culture matters deeply to her. From the moment guests walk in to the moment they leave, she wants them to feel warm, welcome, and seen, in a space that's fun, lively, and all-encompassing.

She believes excitement for food and drink is contagious. With her leading the way, every guest who walks through Ro's doors is invited to catch it, and to come back for more.