Jimmy Buffett, billionaire American musician who died in September, could get his own highway in South Florida.
Florida lawmaker Rep. Chuck Clemons filed a bill last week to rename portions of A1A in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties after the late songwriter.
If the bill is passes when the 2024 Florida legislative session begins in January, S-A1A which runs from Key West to Georgia would be renamed the “Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.”
Buffett’s connection to Key West is deeply rooted in his music, his restaurant, and his appreciation for the island’s relaxed and carefree way of life. He moved to Key West in the early 1970s and the city became his muse. City officials said he owned a home there and was a long-time resident.
Buffett’s song “Margaritaville” — perhaps his most iconic work — is closely associated with Key West. The city has become synonymous with the Margaritaville lifestyle that Buffett has celebrated throughout his career.
Jimmy Buffett died on September 1 at the age of 76. Buffett had been battling Merkel cell cancer, according to a statement.
Read: Jimmy Buffett died on Sept. 1st: Learn about his love of the Caribbean
Following his death, a petition on change.org emerged to officially rename Key West Airport as Jimmy Buffett International Airport. The petition has almost 27,000 signatures of a 35,000 goal.
A love for the tropics
Jimmy Buffett not only promoted the tropical “island escapism” lifestyle in music, but business ventures as well.
In 1984, he and a friend opened a T-shirt shop in Gulf Shores, Alabama. After it failed, in 1985, they tried again in Key West, expanding it to what became Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in 1987. The chain opened restaurants under the Margaritaville and LandShark Bar & Grill names in locations including Atlantic City, New Orleans, Nashville, Turks and Caicos, Las Vegas, Jamaica, Orlando, Baltimore, and the Cayman Islands.
Through his Margaritaville brand, Buffett licensed hotels, casinos, cruise experiences, restaurants and bars, packaged foods, beverages, spirits, outdoor furniture, home goods, appliances, and apparel and accessories.
