Three Minutes On A Park Bench With: Paul M. Guanci

You may know him as Beverly's City Council President, but did you know he has one of Hulk Hogan's shirts in a glass case? 

Take a seat on our virtual Patch Park Bench and get to know Beverly Councillor Paul M. Guanci a little bit better.

Patch: What's your morning routine? 

Paul: Funny that is just what it is a routine that is pretty much set in stone! I get up either at 4:30 or 5:30. 4:30 mornings I drive to the Restaurant Depot in Everett to pick up supplies. They open at 5:00 and when you go early there is no traffic. 5:30 mornings I head straight to start my day at Super Sub Shop/Casual Catering. Every week day I head home at 7:30 to either drive or walk my two younger children, Noah and Julia to Cove school and then go over what is going on the rest of the day with my wife Kristin. Then it is back to work. 

P: What do you do for a living? And what's the best thing about your job?

PG: Since graduating from Saint Anselm College in 1986, I have been running my family business, Super Sub Shop of Beverly. We have been a part of Beverly's downtown since 1970. My "part-time" job is serving as City Council President here in Beverly. I have had the good fortunate to serve on the Council for 12 of the past 14 years (I did retire once!). The best part of both jobs are they commute and the people I have meet through out my tenure here. When you spend a lot of time at work a three minute commute is awesome!

P: What's the hardest?

PG: Job one it is has to be the hours. Owning and operating a small business is a 24/7 responsibility. Your mind never takes a break from it. Job two is finding the time to keep all of your constituents happy. I envy the City Councilors who are able to serve after retiring from private life.

P: How long have you lived in Beverly? 

PG: I first moved to Beverly in the early 1990's but have been a fixture working on Cabot Street at Super Sub Shop since the early 1980's. After graduating from college, Beverly was (and still is) the only place I wanted to live.

P: What's your favorite thing about living here?

PG: Has to be enjoying everything Beverly has to offer. Great parks, great schools, the ocean, a thriving downtown and off course great residents!

P: If you had to arrange a secret meeting here, where would you have it?

PG: Snack shack at West Beach. I think I am the only one who has a key. Real quiet there in the winter but in the summer we operate "Super Sub at West Beach"

P: Tell us something about yourself that most of your neighbors don't know.

PG:  For many years I was a huge fan of professional wrestling. I had season tickets at the old Boston Garden from 1978-1993. Seats were Section K, Row A. Seats 7-10, FRONT ROW! One night the immortal Hulk Hogan threw me his shirt after storming into the ring for his match. I still keep it in a glass case.

P: When you want a really indulgent snack here, where do you go and what do you get?

PG: Ben and Jerry's, the single serving pint (still 16 ounces) from One Stop Market across from Super Sub Shop. The owner, Mr. Gil, is a great guy!

P: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

PG: Best advice (still hard to live by),  Don't let things or people you have no control over upset you. Given to me after a tough City Council meeting by my friend former Beverly City Clerk, Frances MacDonald.

P: What are you doing after this interview?

PG: What's next? Dinner, Homework, Tubs and Bedtime! Joys of being a parent. Kristin and I usually fall asleep before kids!

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Nominate someone from Beverly for our next Patch Park Bench interview. Send suggestions to owen.boss@patch.com.