Maddy + Joe Guenther, O'Maddy's Bar & Grille + Botiki
Maddy and Joe Guenther met in Gainesville, where Maddy and her sister owned a local bar, and Joe served as the general manager for the local Melting Pot restaurant. The sisters convinced Joe to leave the restaurant and take over as manager of their bar.
In 1989, Maddy and Joe moved to Gulfport, where Maddy grew up, and took over the bar her parents had opened 30 years earlier. A few years after that, Maddy and Joe married.
And it has been a whirlwind life since, with two businesses and two children, Christian and Olivia.
In 2005, Maddy and Joe purchased the building next to their bar, and turned it into the restaurant part of what is now O'Maddy's Bar & Grille. Three years later, smack in the middle of the economic crash, the couple took a chance and purchased a small building in downtown Gulfport, and opened a boutique. They have since added an expansion, and Bo-Tiki is now a local favorite for women's clothing, accessories, and jewelry.
The restaurant, of course, continues to thrive as one of Gulfport's biggest success stories.
Maddy and Joe love that they have been able to really grow in every way with Gulfport, they say. "We have grown older together, grown our family and our businesses. And we love that Gulfport, too, has grown, without losing its principles and foundation. It still has its small-town charm, with water views all around."
In 1989, Maddy and Joe moved to Gulfport, where Maddy grew up, and took over the bar her parents had opened 30 years earlier. A few years after that, Maddy and Joe married.
And it has been a whirlwind life since, with two businesses and two children, Christian and Olivia.
In 2005, Maddy and Joe purchased the building next to their bar, and turned it into the restaurant part of what is now O'Maddy's Bar & Grille. Three years later, smack in the middle of the economic crash, the couple took a chance and purchased a small building in downtown Gulfport, and opened a boutique. They have since added an expansion, and Bo-Tiki is now a local favorite for women's clothing, accessories, and jewelry.
The restaurant, of course, continues to thrive as one of Gulfport's biggest success stories.
Maddy and Joe love that they have been able to really grow in every way with Gulfport, they say. "We have grown older together, grown our family and our businesses. And we love that Gulfport, too, has grown, without losing its principles and foundation. It still has its small-town charm, with water views all around."