Jack Penrod

Jack Penrod was born June 25, 1939, in Columbus, Ohio, and passed away on February 3, 2025. He was owner and chairman of Nikki Beach Hospitality Group and co-founder alongside his wife Lucia.

Penrod started his career with McDonald's Restaurant Corporation in 1969 as a line cook and became one of the largest McDonald's franchise owners in Florida. He was the owner of several bars and restaurants across Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Daytona, and founded and owned Penrod's Beach Club in Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami before launching Nikki Beach.

In 1988, he launched Penrod's Beach Club on South Beach in Miami. In 1997, Penrod's daughter, Nicole, died in a car accident at 18 years old, and to honor her memory, he founded Nikki Beach in 1998 on the former Penrod's Beach Club site. Nikki Beach has since grown into a global lifestyle and hospitality brand.

Career History

• McDonald's line cook to major franchise owner (1969-1980s)
• Founder and owner, Penrod's Beach Club, multiple Florida locations (1988-1997)
• Founder and owner, Nikki Beach Hospitality Group (1998-2025)
• Chairman, Nikki Beach Worldwide (through 2022)

What Jack Penrod brought to Nikki Beach: His career demonstrates mastery of marketing, brand development, and scaling hospitality concepts from local to global operations. His expertise in transforming leisure destinations and creating experiential luxury environments—combined with his resilience through adversity—established a hospitality brand distinguished by its celebration of life philosophy, positioning Nikki Beach as a premier global lifestyle company blending music, dining, entertainment, and art.