by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
It’s hard to choose where to begin the Downtown story of Brad and Mayra Valentine.
They met in 1985 and soon became boyfriend and girlfriend. Like many young lovers, they eventually went their separate ways. He moved to Hawaii while she married and later divorced.
In 2009, their paths crossed again through technology.
“I Facebooked him,” said Mayra.
Brad was living in Los Angeles and when Mayra traveled to Southern California to visit relatives, she and Brad decided to reunite after 24 years. They felt an immediate spark and neither wanted to say goodbye when it was time for Mayra to return home.
That’s when Brad made a decision that changed their lives.
“I sold everything I owned and left L.A., headed for Jacksonville,” he said.
He found a place in Springfield and Mayra lived in St. Johns County, but the couple spent a lot of time Downtown.
One year to the day after the Facebook contact, Brad took his future wife to Hemming Plaza Jewelers to pick up the engagement ring he had on layaway and wasted no time making his intentions clear.
“I was sure he’d take me to dinner before he gave me the ring, but Brad dropped down on his knee and proposed right inside the store,” said Mayra.
On Aug. 10, they said their vows on the Main Street Bridge.
These days, the Valentines can be found at the southwest corner of Hemming Plaza, just a few feet from the jewelry store, operating their business, “Popka’s Hot Dogs.” It’s named after Mayra’s nickname.
Brad also works as a chef at St. Johns Golf & Country Club and brings some of his culinary talent to the hot dog game. In fact, if you call the business a “hot dog stand,” Brad quickly responds that it’s actually a “curbside kitchen.”
Valentine said he makes Southern-style cole slaw every day and grills fresh red and green bell peppers with Vidalia onions to layer on the sausages.
Since a lot of customers ask for something spicy, he’s working on a recipe for his own jalapeno relish.
In addition to Nathan’s hot dogs, kielbasa and Italian sausage, which you expect to find under a tent at the plaza during the lunch hour, there’s also a flat screen TV and the corner is a wireless Internet “hot spot.”
If you’re really pressed for time at lunch, you can text an order in advance to 8132997 and it will be ready when you arrive.
The Valentines said they wanted to operate a hot dog business Downtown so they could be their own bosses and spend as much time together as possible.
“We’re so excited to be part of this historic park. This is a dream come true,” said Brad.
356-2466