'Jack Willie's wouldn't be here' without Steinbrenner, owner says

OLDSMAR, Fla. -  Don Alvino has no doubt.

"If it wasn't for Mr. Steinbrenner, Jack Willie's wouldn't be here," Alvino says.

Jack Willie’s Tiki Bar and Grill is in Oldsmar. Former Yankee pitcher David Cone and former Yankee pitching coach Billy Connors launched the restaurant and bar.

But in the early part of the decade, the restaurant was floundering. Connors had worked for Steinbrenner and counted him as a friend. The two went and saw Alvino, a local restaurant owner, and asked his advice on what to do.

Initially, Alvino suggested closing the restaurant. But Steinbrenner and Connors came back later and asked if there was another alternative. Alvino had one: Give him $100,000 and see what he could do.

"(Steinbrenner) wrote me a check on the spot," Alvino remembers. "Actually I have the check framed."

This was not Steinbrenner's restaurant. He had not invested any money into it yet. But his friend was involved in it, and Steinbrenner wanted it to succeed. So he wrote the check.

Alvino took the money and turned the restaurant around. He paid back the money in six months.

"It was an honor to be approached by (Steinbrenner)," Alvino said.

Eight years later, Alvino is now the owner of the restaurant. He bought the place from Cone and Connors. But Steinbrenner would still often come in with Connors, sitting in their usual table in the back of the restaurant.

Alvino says Steinbrenner was always approachable and always generous with his time when he would come to the restaurant. He's sad he won't be coming back.

"You know, I hadn't thought about it that much," Alvino said, sitting at Steinbrenner's usual table.

"But now, I'm sitting here with you and it's a sad thought to know he won't be back here anymore."