Marc Jacobs

Executive Partner & Divisional President

Marc Jacobs is the Executive Partner & Divisional President of Aba, Antico Posto, Beatrix, Beatrix Market, The Dalcy, Ema, Rotisserie Ema and L. Woods. 

Marc began his career with Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants in the fall of 1991, as a banquet server and busser at Bones (now L. Woods) in Lincolnwood, Illinois. After being cross-trained as a server, host and line cook, Marc was promoted to a manager of the restaurant upon his graduation from UIC in the summer of 1995.

Two years later, Marc was transferred to R.J. Grunts, Lettuce’s first restaurant, and he quickly climbed the ladder to become General Manager. It was there that he first worked alongside Rich Melman, focusing on the re-development of the restaurant which ultimately launched Marc’s lifelong career in hospitality. 

With 35 years at Lettuce and 20+ years as a Partner, Marc has led the creation, design and re-concepting of more than 30 restaurants nationwide. His experience ranges from grab and go and fast casual concepts including Beatrix Market, Foodease and Foodlife - “Chicago’s original food hall” - to the iconic Fulton Market private event space, The Dalcy, and full-service concepts like Antico Posto, a bustling 25-year-old Italian restaurant and wine bar in the Chicago suburbs and L.Woods Tap & Pine Lodge, known for its nostalgic Northwoods Supper Club menu and design.

Marc’s impact is made daily through his dedication to food and drink, menu development and team building. More recently, his focus has been on continuing to grow notable Lettuce concepts including Aba (Chicago, IL, Austin, TX, Nashville, TN) and Ēma (Chicago, IL, Glenview, IL, Austin, TX) the Mediterranean and California-inspired sister restaurants and Beatrix, a neighborhood restaurant and coffeehouse with five Chicagoland locations and a Beatrix Market at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Outside of operations, Marc is driven by his passion for restaurant design with an emphasis on FOH and BOH floor plans, materiality and furniture, lighting and décor selections. 

In his free time, Marc sits on Lettuce’s Executive Board, is a member of the Lettuce Consulting Group and is an Advisory Council member at DePaul’s School of Hospitality Leadership. He enjoys visiting new restaurants, traveling, health and wellness, and spending time with his wife Vanessa, their three children, Samantha, Alexandra and Gabriel, and their dogs, Jake and Rosie.