On the Street

Matt Walthour, Bike rentals and sales
"So far, if it’s any indication, it looks quite good for rentals. Sales are a little different because some of the European manufacturers shut down. December was brutal for us because of that. We do have a consistent influx of people coming to Marco, though. People come down to see their parents and grandparents and have a place to stay."

Betty McGilvray, Realtor
"Marco Island is always going to be a destination, and if anybody’s going to come back we will. We’ve started to see a little bit of that already, and we’re holding our own. Prices are more realistic. As a Realtor, I think open houses are key. It gives us a feel for how many people are on the island, how many are actually looking and what questions they’re asking, which helps us become better informed on what to offer."

Richard Alan, Jeweler
"It’s a good question, because it’s no secret that the industry was basically on its ear for the past Christmas holiday. It was way off. Luckily we survived because of a regular clientele. But, the gold price changes on an hourly basis, so I can’t just say let me order that for you because I don’t know how much it’s going to be. Even repair costs have gone up, even though gas went down. But customers are still going to buy for birthdays and things like that."