Mark Angelo, right, with Todd Ulmer
Mark Robert Angelo, a proficient entrepreneur who opened dozens of bars and restaurants, most in downtown Orlando, died April 13 after a long bout with pancreatic cancer. He was 59.
Angelo was the owner, along with Todd Ulmer, of Beacon Hill Group. Their first bar together was Room 39, which opened in 2002. The two also owned Mucho Tequila and Tacos and were partners with Bernard Carmouche and Larry Sinibadi in Muddy Waters, the restaurant that replaced it. Stardust Lounge and Aku Aku Tiki Bar are two of their other concepts.
According to Ulmer, it was around the time when they opened Sonoma Draught House (now Stubborn Mule) in 2011 that Angelo was diagnosed with cancer and was given a prognosis of two to three years. He began researching alternative treatments and became an advocate in passing Florida’s Right to Try law, which allows patients to receive treatments not currently approved by the FDA. He had recently traveled to Germany for an experimental treatment but was unable to undergo it due to failing health.
Ulmer said the extra years allowed Angelo to watch his children, Briana and Mark Jr., grow. They, along with his wife, Lisa, survive him.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, services were private. The family plans to have a celebration of Angelo’s life at a future date.
