Small Business Owners When you buy local, all the money spent stays here! When you get brunch from Joey at the Fruit Yard or John at Surlaʼs, youʼre getting a better product, and then they in turn donate to your kidʼs football or water polo team. Keep the money in Modesto! MV: What advice would you give to someone that wanted to open a new business downtown? MM: Opening a new business in downtown can be incredibly difficult, but we need new business! Look at some of the successful people in the field youʼve chosen and try to emulate what they do. Susan at Bonnie J has been very successful at retail in downtown. I know it has been an uphill battle for her, but with brains and hard work sheʼs triumphed. We need about ten more Susans in Modesto! Talk about a shot in the arm! MV: What do you think about making it a priority to have live music in downtown? MM: Music in downtown Modesto is the magic that makes our communityʼs wheels go round. We already have the fantastic Gallo Center that provides us with talent no one could bring to smaller clubs (thanks, Lynn Dickerson!), and we should all continue to support and promote local talent for both the performers and the local venues. We could all do better! Check out what great shows Sue at the State Theatre is bringing in for the month, or who is playing at the Queen Bean this weekend. When we all work together, we are much stronger than any corporate house. MV: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go? MM: If I could visit only one place, I think I would go back to Zurich and stay in the small hotel Tammy and I stayed in about ten years ago. One night, we were in bed around midnight and decided to throw open the windows. It was very cold, but we had a huge down blanket on our bed. Lying there with church bells
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ringing with my wonderful wife is about as close to heaven as I can imagine. MV: Describe your perfect Modesto day? MM: I live my perfect day on a regular basis. I get up late, make it to Tresettiʼs about noon for lunch, meet up with the family, and take care of business for the rest of the day. My afternoon is usually spent trying to figure out where to have dinner — always local! Then itʼs home, a little TV with the family, and off to bed. You really canʼt beat that! MV: Beatles or Stones? MM: Beatles all the way! How could four guys change this world anymore than they did, and continue, to do?
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