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BILL BARNETT

ven though I don’t know the results of the Super Bowl which was like Midas, only not as well-known and definitely
yet, I certainly do know that my Buffalo Bills will not cheaper. By then my brother-in-law had moved to Naples with
E be in it! I truly thought this was going to be our year, his wife and kids around the same age as ours and joined my
as did many others, but hope springs eternal and there’s always business venture. We were immediately busy and started meeting
next year! I promise you not a word will be heard from me about the small but wonderful Naples population. Keep in mind there
football or the Bills again until next September when the NFL was a total population in the entire county of about 5000 people
kicks off and then, if they are doing well, you might hear a blurb here. As the muffler shop was being completed I was bored, (and
or two from me. driving my wife crazy) so I got my first job in Naples when a
This is the time of year with the season going full tilt that I like brand new McDonalds opened its doors on US 41 South where
to hibernate, and I do my very best to let the tourists and other it still stands today on the corner of 41 and Bayshore Drive. We
visitors soak up every bit of downtown Naples which is absolutely didn’t know what McDonalds was back then, the concept was
beautiful. Shops galore with great restaurants, great walking, and that new. The O’Reilly family owned and ran it, and today still
very easy to get to the beach and the awesome Third Street South does, and they hired me. I was in charge of cooking the Big Macs,
shopping and dining areas. I have from May through December and back then the way I was taught to know when to flip them
to enjoy those same amenities without the crowds, and many was to take my thumb and press the center of the burger. It was
locals feel the same way. Also, trying to get reservations at the last a very quick way to tell if that burger was done, and for the first
minute is impossible and I always warn our visitors to make them week or so you can imagine how quickly I learned how to flip
well in advance. that burger. That job lasted a little over a month and it was great
It’s an exciting time with our new President being sworn into having my kids come in and point at me laughing with glee at
office. You very rarely hear me talk about national politics, I have their daddy cooking Big Macs! The O’Reilly’s are still friends and
always felt more comfortable giving my opinions on city and never get tired of telling folks over the years about my first job in
some county politics. So just a quick word about Donald Trump. Naples. More about my early years here in the next issue.
I am personally pleased with him being elected and I think he I can’t remember ever seeing cold weather the way it has
will be good for our nation. I do wish he would give a little more been the last month. Warm clothes came out of my closet that
thought to what he is going to say before he says it, but that’s just hadn’t been worn for years. Our heat kicked on nightly, and at
his nature and, by now, I’m used to it. first I liked it, but then I got tired of being cold, and now that we
Speaking of politics, as I promised a few articles ago, I will try are back in the 80’s I’m happy! I know there were some mighty
and write a little in each article about early Naples and some of unhappy tourists that had chosen to stay here during January, but
my experiences from the early 70’s and moving forward to today. the merchants were happy because shopping was always available.
The year was 1973, my wife and three young children found No matter what the national average for real estate growth is, it
ourselves, by choice, in Naples and we rented a home with a real seems that Naples is always oblivious to it. We seem to set our
pool in Royal Harbor. We were thrilled and although I wasn’t sure own trends, and they are, on average, above the national level.
what my profession would turn out to be, I knew there would be Don’t talk to me about traffic during the season.
ample opportunities for a former car salesman who was 33 years Enjoy this gorgeous weather, and everything else
old. After doing some research, I realized that there were very few Naples has to offer!
places in Naples to get a car muffler changed and found a great
All the Best,
little shop on 4th Avenue North, that used to be a car wash and
Bill Barnett, Former Mayor
had two bays in it. I bought it, got a Scotti Muffler Franchise,
I do respond to e-mails at: mayornaples@gmail.com

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