This is the original rough drawing or blueprint of Muldoon's counter. Muldoon's was a small pizza restaurant located in the small brick building the 1st block off 41 on 4th Ave South. Before there was Muldoon's it was Monty's Bar B Q & as a teenager I would get dropped off in town & head over to Monty's because you could buy a BAG of french fries for 25 cents. The bag was huge & at least you have something to eat before you started drinking Saturday night beers before the dance at the Teen Center. The dances were put on at the Norris Community Center located across from the police station. I had a heck of a time walking by there in a straight line it was a bad place to put a police station at least from a drunken teenager's point of view. The beer was usually free donated by weekend boater's without their knowledge or consent (I'll leave the rest of that story for another post).
Muldoons things courtesy Bill Woznak & Gerry Johnson
mmmmmm, tuuurkeeey boat at Muldoons with lots of street rods in the parking lot on a Friday/Saturday night. Then heading to Green Blvd for some drag racin' fun and trunk loads of beer!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the huge slot car track place (can't remember the name) on the opposite end of Muldoons/Monty's BBQ?
Circle3Ranch
Scott
When Muldoon’s was still Monty’s Barbeque, (back in the summer of ‘64), I worked right next door at Badcock (swear to God) Furniture and Appliance as a furniture delivery helper. Out the back door (behind Monty’s, across from the Post Office loading dock) was the Naples Raceway Slot Car Track owned by Mr. Chelsea Bass, who also owned the Naples Hobby Shop on Fifth Avenue S. between Ingram’s Hardware and Shepard’s Office Supply (across from the original Sunshine Market).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the first track was pretty cool with an over/underpass with a tight loop at each end, but it wasn’t banked and you really had to slow down to survive the turns.
And then . . . he rented the unit next door, took out a wall, and built a loooooooong eight lane figure eight with high banks and sideboards at both ends.
Man what a trip!
Wide open down the straight and just a blip on your “Russkit” controller before the turn to make sure you didn’t “lose the groove” and then wide open all over again for hours on end . . . Let’s see, I had a “Manta Ray”, a Cox “Ford GT”, my own controller, and a carrying case full of spare gears, tires, guides, crashed cars and an assortment of clear plastic bodies that you painted on the inside with special flexible paint.
That summer, I spent all the money I made at the furniture store and all my lawn mowing and car washing money at that track . . . but I won on Sunday. :-)
Yeah I remember that track . . .
Seagate Homeboy
SH...
ReplyDeleteThanks for joggin' the memory bank, I do remember when the 8 lane figure 8 was added. Though I didn't spend that much time or all my lawn mowing/news paper delivery/cleaning paint cans at Naples Auto Body Shop money (next to McDonalds Quaters & RR Tracks on 1st ave n). I was busy running up and down Rock Creek and the Naples Bay in my 12'ft boat :)
The Slavins also had a slot car track too. The "Family Hobby Shop" it was on 10th St. It was very small and cramped, but effective. And one at the Clumsky building in the mid 70's
I also remember the Badcock store on 4th ave s and when it moved to Central Ave across from the Record Bar....that's was one of the other money magnets as a kid, and a whole other story :)~
Circle3Ranch
Scott
Danny Slavin (Carey’s dad), and Wally Fredrickson Sr. from "Danny's Auto Electric" were two of the few who could beat me on race day. They had a little larger budget than a 14 year old kid. They would start with a "Dynocharger" and then rewind the motor and well, you know . . .
ReplyDeleteMan those guys were fast!!!
Somewhere around 1974, I sold Danny my full-size, and very fast, 1962 Volkswagen sedan (thanks for your engine expertise Matt Kurke and Woody's Works). Danny converted it into his bright yellow VW stake-side pickup and it was sweeeet!
Then there's the one about how that VW engine got built, up in Clayton, GA, and how I got arrested just south of there, in Clarksville, for being a “long haired hippie freak", and held at gunpoint by a deputy (you know, like in “Easy Rider”) in the Habersham County Water Works Department building with the Ed Potter for Sheriff posters plastered all over the walls . . .
Oops, there I go again . . .
Seagate Homeboy
You left out that Monty's had the best bbq sauce ever made. There is a fake "Original Monty's" recipe and a bottled version in circulation. But it sucks. I mail ordered a bottle of the sauce and planned my whole week around it's arrival. And it was terrible. I didn't get my head right for weeks afterward I was so disappointed. Does anybody remember Lee and his nutcase wife who ran the place?
ReplyDeleteI made a mistake, I think The name of the bbq joint Muldoons took over was called Ida-Lee's. When the business and sauce recipe was sold it became Monty's, and I think the name change only went into effect after the restaurant moved to Davis Blvd. A look at a circa 1969 Naples phone book would resolve this question.
ReplyDeleteI can only vouch for Monty's being there as early as 1964, and that it was followed chronologically by Muldoon's. I recall the name Ida-Lee's, but not clear on where it fits in the space/time continuum?
ReplyDeleteDidn't Monty re-locate to the end of Vanderbilt Beach or Bonita Beach road before he ended up out on Davis Boulevard (or vice versa)?
Did "Dottie" work @ Monty's back in the day, or is that my imagination?
SH
Monty's was bought out by a husband and wife named Ida and Lee,hence IDALEE,S BBQ.They were'nt very nice to the kids after school and did'nt stay open more than a few years.I once was eating a ham plate dinner and found a roach under the last piece of ham.YUUUUK.Monty,s was a great place to eat and hang out and he truly liked the after school crowd.As far as i know,Dottie worked at Cris's Gourmet Castle and the Bus Station Diner.A few places that were really good to eat at also were Sugar and Spice on 4th Ave south,The Emporium roast beef place in the old Topics Drive In on 41 and Lands restaurant in the Liggets Pharmacy up by Publix.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm more clear now. Thanks for mentioning the Emporium I was trying to remember that one earlier.
ReplyDeleteI just gotta dredge up "Bud's Diner" (great corned beef hash); The "White House" on Airport Road near Connecticut Ave. (biscuits and gravy); and how about "Pastrami Dan's"? Mmmmmm... Yumbo
SH
Here goes SH....I worked at "Bud's Diner" (Bud & Betty Rice) washing dishes during the NHS split session/early morning(freshman/sophomore/72/73) years.
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved to Naples Park in '72' and starting in early '73' I would thumb a ride to Buds Diner from the corner of 94th Ave N @ 6am in the dark. Wash dishes till 11am and thumb up 41 to 22nd ave to start school @ 12:20pm till 5:00pm.
Then came the 125 Yamaha enduro late in my sophomore year (thanks Mal & marty) with more freedom then I could stand. Skipping school in the woods (now Coastland Mall) and riding till it was time to go home and catch the wrath of dear old Dad. What fun that was!
Heck, even Conrad Molter was washing dishes in the afternoon session (class of '73') at 'Buds' with his Gordon&Smith 'T' shirt on probably bought at the 'Eagles Nest' on 5th Ave.
Some things never change...lol!
Hang Ten ya'll
Scott
Circle3Ranch
I love this....I remember in Jr. High while waiting for bus to come we would run to Monty's and get french fries..the best...and run back to catch the bus! Naples was great to grow up in. Remember the Tropics Drive In...way before DognSuds....and Lums?
ReplyDeleteWas Dottie a large almost round woman with black hair and little tiny lips, a cartoon face? If she is who I'm thinking of, she might also have worked at Pappy's in Central Mall. If so, her brother was arrested for murdering Mrs. Waples. Thanks for clearing up the Monty's - Ida Lee's mystery. I didn't know that the place started as Monty's and changed it's name to Ida Lees. I guess Monty bought it back and reopened on Davis Blvd. --JS
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteRespectfully I must jump in and say that the Dottie I mentioned is NOT the person you have described, in any way shape or form.
I think the Dottie I spoke of may have been in the mix before your time.
For quite a few years she was a professional food server/counterperson at the Bus Station Diner and then was second in command at Chris' Gourmet Castle (in 1969 and 1970 for sure). Maybe the Bus Station came after, I’m not sure. I may have the chronology reversed, but this all took place before Lums)
Dottie was a nice, genuine, straightforward gal in her middle-aged and graying (grayed), a little matronly, but square shouldered with a dose of "Sergeant Major" running through her veins. She not only took and served our food orders at the counter, she was a kind person with a huge heart who kept an eye on all of us that frequented her place of business; it was kind of like we were her extra set of kids. I don't think there was anyone that had the good fortune to experience this woman that didn’t respect her.
In an earlier post I asked if anyone remembered the Dottie I described above working the counter at Monty’s (probably would have been in the early to mid-60’s).
I lost sight of the fact that there are a variety of folks reading this blog and that not everyone would have the same time perspective as myself.
I’m reasonably sure, however, that she worked somewhere else other that the Bus Station or Chris’(later to become Pippins) that’s why I mentioned Monty’s.
Heck, I’m pretty sure that later on (early/mid ‘70’s) she ended up with her own diner on 5th Ave. S. on the right side (going west) between 4th and 5th streets. (named “Dottie’s” perhaps ???)
Dottie, if you or any of your family are still out there and read or hear about this blog, you know how “Yer Kids” felt about you. Thanks for everything. Perfect timing.
In my life you were truly one of the good guys.
With respect,
Charlie Brady,
NHS Class of 1967
a/k/a Seagate Homeboy
I,m pretty sure Dottie,s last name was Howell because her son was David Howell and the lady at the counter at Monty's was Monty's wife because they both worked there as a team.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anonymous for the detail about Monty's wife. You have put my question about the counter lady at Monty's to rest. Good knowledge on Dottie's last name and her son. You have filled in yet another void in my feeble mind.
ReplyDeleteSH
The wife's name of the couple who had Muldoon's was Honey.
ReplyDeleteI so remember Muldoon's! I loved their pizza and it was always a treat to have Muldoons Pizza.
ReplyDeleteSH - I believe you are referring to Dottie's Spice of Life on 5th Avenue. Remember having breakfast and lunch there several times.
Thanks for all the memories......
Marie Lyons Janasik
Class of 82 Naples High
I remember Muldoons.. I used to work next door as a cameraman at cable vision..
ReplyDeleteEvery night after doing the 11 o clock news, we would go for beers at Muldoons..
Great times...
As teenagers, we would meet many nights at Muldoon's. Loved the place. Many of us girls still remember their amazing turkey subs. Crispy, fluffy roll, shredded lettuce and otherwise really amazing. Wish I knew their secret. Have never had another that even approached how good theirs were.
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