Second Rodeo wants you to stay a while.
By Maria Paula Gonzales
In a world where grab-and-go is constantly glamorized, Second Rodeo wants you to stay a while.
The cafe-to-cocktail bar has you covered day into night, and it’s absolutely everything Boynton Beach has been missing. From slinging cocktails to iced latte’s, this Southwest inspired joint has concocted an almost perfect space to keep you coming back.
How does a restaurant not only have their customers return regularly but also stay and experience the environment rather than taking the iced americano to-go?
Sean Iglehart, owner of Second Rodeo, told us how it all started relies heavily on context and his previous experience. When Sean revealed the inspiration behind the name Second Rodeo, it gave the restaurant an entirely different light.
“The interior design of Second Rodeo came from inspiration of kind this southwest thing, you know, Second Rodeo was just supposed to be tongue in cheek. This isn’t our first rodeo because we have experience behind us”, he explains.
Sean is also the owner of Sweetwater in Boynton Beach, a popular joint among locals and craft cocktail lovers alike since 2011.
With that experience under his belt, the restaurateur reflects on his journey and how it’s all been culminating to this very moment. “Being a bartender for twenty plus years in this industry and on every level, it’s exciting to get into the coffee space because it was a little bit of a learning curve,” Sean said.
Not only did Second Rodeo venture into a space meant to be enjoyed midday or midnight, they executed it beautifully with a little help along the way. Sean tapped Pumphouse Coffee Roasters to prep and teach them the ropes on what to expect. “We partnered with Pumphouse Coffee and those guys are amazing. They have really, really solid coffee. They have a good spot. And they just made it very simple, we support them one hundred percent,” Sean said.
Fast-forward several months later, and Second Rodeo is providing cafe-to-cocktail galore, great music, and outstanding service. Sean hopes the blended experience leaves a lasting impression on his customers.
“I want people to have really, really good meals. And I want them to see the value in the food and the drinks. I want them to say, ‘wow, that was a real experience,’ you know, not some fabricated thing,” Sean said. “I just want people to leave with a real experience.”
As Sean explained it, there are three different vibes you’ll find at Second Rodeo, depending on when you visit. Their cafe is open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Complete with a liquor license and espresso machine, you can get anything ranging from a Bloody Mary to a latte and enjoy the afternoon slowly. They’ve even coined the term “cofftails” — coffee based beverages spiked with your choice of whiskey, gin, rum, or vodka. Of course, breakfast and lunch food is available to order as well.
At 6 p.m., the space is transformed entirely when they open for dinner service. Think seasonal menu items, reservations, and a full service kitchen and cocktail lounge. Once the dinner rush is over, you’d think they’re closing up shop, but the fun is just beginning and doesn’t stop until 2 a.m. Even their kitchen is serves food until 1:30 a.m.
“Then there’s a lull and you think this place is about to close, and just a slew of people come in, but it’s a great crowd,” Sean said. “It kind of reminds me of Joyface in New York City, or Employees Only where it’s just super fun. We play cool ass music where people sing along and the girls are just f-ing belting out. It’s just a good vibe.”
The ever-evolving menu is one of the driving forces of the space, not only to differentiate the atmospheres throughout the day, but also to allow customers to get curious about what’s on the menu for dinner while enjoying lunch. The hope is that you’re so intrigued, you come back for seconds once the restaurant opens for dinner.
Expanding Second Rodeo happened by chance, but also out of need. With the main lounge being just about 700 square feet, Sean didn’t think twice when the opportunity came along.
“There was just not enough space, you know what I mean?” Sean said. “We were just busting at the seams. There was a dog groomer next to us and we took it over, blew a hole in the wall, and, you know, my buddy and I designed it and it was ready in about 45 days.”
From the service down to the amazing decor, it’s exactly how Sean paints it, “We kind of dub ourselves as a five star dive bar.”
Visit over for coffee, stay for lunch (or to explore their retail section), and come back for a night of drinks and dancing. Second Rodeo is the kind of spot that changes how you view restaurants for good.
640 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach
