Jason Sapp, one of co-owners of Matty’s Wilton Park, has visited dozens of countries, including exotic ones. But despite Sapp’s cultural sophistication, he’s still just a country boy at heart who enjoys time at home with his partner and his fur babies.
What’s your claim-to-fame?
I’m a little hick town boy who made good (laughs). I’m also one of the co-founders of Matty’s Wilton Park.
Where did you grow up?
In Dry Branch, Georgia.
What’s something special about Dry Branch that isn’t common knowledge?
It’s pretty much the kaolin and kudzu capital of the country.
What do you miss about Dry Branch?
Not the kaolin or kudzu, that’s for sure. I do miss my family, though.
How long have you lived in South Florida?
I moved here in 2000 from Atlanta, where I worked in the IT field after college.
Why did you move here?
Because I met someone.
What part of South Florida do you live in?
In Pompano Beach.
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- Jason Sapp
What do you like most about living here?
The weather, the lack of allergy triggers, and the community.
Where do you hang out in South Florida?
At home with my partner Carl and my pups, at Matty’s, and—on the rare occasion—the gym.
What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone?
Chardees.
If you had to live somewhere else other than here, where would you live?
Wherever my partner was. Hopefully, it would be Paris, Amalfi/Capri or London.
Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?
Not—a—single—one.
When did you open Matty’s?
We opened on November 13, 2015.
What was your career before you opened Matty’s?
I worked in the IT field.
What’s your signature drink?
For myself, I like Kamikaze martinis or the Kyoto—but only if it’s made by myself, or by Ang at the Le Meridien in Bangkok. For other people, I enjoy making recipes for them that I’ve discovered on my travels.
What’s the best show that you’ve had at Matty’s so far?
Miss Bouvee has been incredible every time that she’s performed here. The Boys are awesome too.
What’s the most special charitable event that you’ve had a Matty’s so far?
It would be hard to pick the best one. But on a personal level, I really get behind Toys For Tots at Christmas time. And I’m partial to animals too, so I’ve really enjoyed the events that we hosted for pet adoptions.
Either for a good or a bad reason, what customer stands out to you the most?
All of them do. Before becoming a bar owner, I was very shy and introverted. But my customers have helped me overcome this, and to become more outgoing, not just to them, but to everyone I meet.
What’s the weirdest request that a customer has had?
If I would take his nephew to the prom.
What’s the best place that you’ve traveled too so far?
While I’m quite surprised at how much I’ve enjoyed Asia—especially Bangkok and Singapore—London is still my first love. Due to its history, but also because of those sexy British accents (laughs).
And what’s been the worst place?
Dry Branch (laughs). Jakarta left me absolutely miserable. It’s not pretty, and the heat and humidity at 7:00 a.m. is horrible, and it only gets worse as the day goes on.
What’s on your travel bucket list?
At this point, very little, because my partner has taken me to most of the places that were on it. I’d still like to visit the Galápagos Islands… and a safari. But Carl says that he’ll never do another one again. But I’m working on wearing him down on this (laughs).
Would you travel to space if it was affordable?
Yes, just to say that I did it.
What would your drag name be?
Anita Napp or Dri’ Blanche.
What did you do to keep yourself busy during the quarantine?
I only had about two weeks of down time before I was back at Matty’s with David and Jason, offering curbside meals to go, and making lunches for Holy Cross Hospital that we donated to the workers.
Will you ever retire?
Not completely. I do plan to cut back in the future, as I have some other ventures that I’m going to pursue.
What’s the last thing that you looked at online?
Cruises, because my partner is planning one again.
Would you ever pose nude?
Hasn’t everyone, once a camera was added to cell phones?
What are you an expert at?
Pretending like I don’t hear my partner talking to me (laughs). And while I’m not an expert at it, I’m pretty darn good at procrastinating, too.
If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered?
As someone who was patient and tried to do the best he could with what he had.
What do you want to live long enough to see?
Karma in action.
If vampirism was real and you could live forever, would you do it?
That’s a very hard choice. I would have to choose to never love again, or to love and lose over and over again. Either choice is painful.
What drives you crazy?
Pretentious people full of drama.
How would you feel if your pet was the master in heaven, and you were the pet?
Now that really would be heaven. Actually, that’s pretty much how it is now anyway.
Would you give a kidney to a relative or close friend?
Yes.
What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?
That the way other people behave doesn’t have to affect me unless I let it.
What’s your best characteristic?
My humor.
What’s your favorite quote?
“Begin nothing until you have considered how it is to be finished.”
How do you enjoy spending your time?
At home with my partner and pups. And traveling… I really enjoy that.
Who do you admire?
My partner, Carl.
If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be?
My dad.
Where would you go in a time machine?
Everywhere. There are so many historical events that I would want to witness.
What would your last meal be?
This would be a tie between Carl’s chicken piccata or his prime rib, and my mother’s homemade chicken and dumplings.
What do you worry about?
Not much at all. But when I do, it’s usually about things that I have no control over that my mind comes up with at 3:00 a.m. when I’m trying to sleep.
If you were a musical instrument, what would you be?
Any kind that would require someone to put me in their mouth.
Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?
A wolf.
Who are you closest with?
My partner Carl, my pups, Steve and Mike, and my niece Brandi.
What would your autobiography be called?
Did You See What He Just Did?
What’s on your bucket list?
Fifty things. Some silly, some personal, some professional, and some places that I want to travel to. But there are always 50 things on it. Once I complete one and remove it, I add another.
What’s your greatest regret in life?
I don’t have many, but the few that I do have are real doozies.
What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know?
That the FBI talks about my browser history at their cocktail parties.
Where can we see you?
At Matty’s, or maybe at the gym (laughs).
