“Thriving In South Florida With Bobby Blair” is designed to empower and inspire readers. In each interview, I will be featuring members of our community who share their real stories of bravery, tenacity and a strong will to survive. Their dilemmas and hardships are ones to which we can all relate. Yet, in the end, these leaders came out on top. Combining our print edition with our strong online presence, I will be bringing the community inspirational stories in a whole new way. In addition to the print version of the column, we will also feature an Internet talk show segment through guymag.net and floridaagenda.com. You’ll be able to see episodes of the talk show “Thriving In South Florida With Bobby Blair,” exclusively through our sites. I hope that you enjoy both the talk show and the feature below.
Laurie Whittaker and Jennifer Morales, owners of Sidelines Sports & Video Bar in Wilton Manors, gave been together for 33 years now (last week was their anniversary). Thirty-three years together is what’s kept their business alive, coupled with their passion for sports of course.
“I feel both privileged and pressured when people ask ‘how did you make it last so long?’” says Whittaker. “One thing [is that] Jennifer and I were very fortunate to grow up together. I was 19, almost 20, and she was 21. When you’re that age you think you know everything, but you get older you realize you really didn’t know anything at all.”
Though they were happy, the couple struggled at times.
“There was a time that Jen and I were on food stamps, and I remember at that time feeling embarrassment.”
But through it all, Morales stood by Whittaker’s side – even when Whittaker’s own family wasn’t. For ten years, Whittaker’s relationship with her family became nearly nonexistent, until she moved down to Florida to pursue a career in law in 1989.
After the many years, her family became a part of her life again.
“They thanked me for allowing them back in my life, even though they had cut me off, and that I didn’t rake them over the coals and give them such a hard time. I’m not going to lie to you, there was still some lingering feels of hurt and pain,” Whittaker says openly. “It’s better for you to forgive than to hang on to the anger and the resentment, because in the end, you’re the only one that hurts, not the person that you’re angry with, because it’s not affecting their life, it’s only affecting your own.”
“Most people don’t know that I have a moderate hearing disability. I have to read lips. If you’re standing behind me, I can’t hear you.”
“Jen, when I first met her, was not that much into sports,” says Whittaker. “She goes absolutely nuts now [for games]. Even when we’re at home. I’ve created a monster!” she jokes.
After her dad passed, Whittaker decided she wanted a change of pace.
“When your whole day is doing nothing but solving people’s problems, it gets to be a little bit difficult,
explains Whittaker. “To be honest with you, I’m the type of person that really cares, so sometimes I made it a little too personal. As a lawyer, that’s very dangerous, because it can really burn you out.”
She always liked being around people and the idea of opening a bar seemed like the right idea.
Going seven years strong, Sidelines is still bringing in sports fans by the numbers. In addition to that, the bar now offers a VIP bottle area, where groups of friends can watch the game in a reserved space. With 24 flat screen TVs, two pool tables and dart boards, the bar is aiming to bring the action to you.
None of the success would have been possible if it wasn’t for the determination, passion, and love that Whittaker and Morales found within each other.
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