Lowell Hawthorne, the visionary founder and CEO behind Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill, tragically took his own life in New York over the weekend. At 57, Hawthorne had built a Caribbean food empire with over 120 locations across nine states—a true testament to entrepreneurial grit and cultural pride.
Hawthorne’s story was once spotlighted on the hit show Undercover Boss, highlighting the unique challenges Black entrepreneurs face while scaling their businesses. But as anyone who’s ever launched a startup knows, entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster of manic highs and crushing lows. Behind the success and expansion was the relentless pressure of managing a growing brand in an increasingly automated and AI-driven food industry.
By 2025, the restaurant and food service landscape has been radically transformed by AI-powered supply chain management, automated kitchens, and personalized customer experiences driven by data. For legacy brands like Golden Krust, adapting to these rapid changes while maintaining authentic cultural roots is a tough balancing act—one that can take a serious toll on founders.
Hawthorne’s passing is a stark reminder that mental health struggles don’t discriminate, even among the most successful entrepreneurs. As the creator economy and AI continue to reshape business, it’s crucial for founders to build support systems and prioritize well-being alongside growth. The entrepreneurial hustle is real, but so is the need for human connection and care.
For those navigating the high-stakes world of business in 2025, Hawthorne’s story is both a cautionary tale and a call to action: success isn’t just about scaling fast or leveraging the latest tech—it’s about sustainable leadership and mental resilience.
Kevin "KevRoss" Ross is a music and radio industry expert. He is a 20 -plus year entrepreneur with the leading most successful industry trade publication and site Radio Facts (www.radiofacts.com). He has also published various books, magazines, performed marketing and promotions for major corporations and recording artists and he is on the advisory board of several industry organizations. This year Ross introduced his non profit organization LOMARI (Leaders of the Music and Recording Industry) to help teach young minority students how to market and manage their music and products.
