NATCHEZ &045; Jean McDonald said that he has good reason to believe that his long- time neighbor, Willie Knowles, will be a success at his new business; he taught him almost everything he knows about good cooking.

&uot;He can cook and anything that he don’t know I can tell him. I have taught him,&uot; McDonald said.

Knowles is set to reopen the Franklin Street Bar-B-Q on the corner of East Franklin Street and Auburn Avenue on Wednesday and believes that when he does patrons will simply get &uot;the best barbeque there is in town.&uot;

He said growing up next to McDonald, a first-rate chef in his own right, was helpful and he knows he can still count on his friend.

&uot;I will help him if he gets in a jam,&uot; McDonald said.

The building that will serve as the takeout restaurant was last called Floyd’s Po-Boys. Knowles believes it is a prime location and that his reputation as someone who knows his way around a grill will help him at his venture.

&uot;Most people know me around here,&uot; he said. &uot;I started catering as a hobby for friends and neighbors, but now I have been doing this for over 20 years. I think I know the tricks of the trade.&uot;

Knowles is the owner of Willie’s Place bar on Martin Luther King Jr. Street, but he said the Franklin Street Bar-B-Q would be his first try as the owner of a restaurant.

He isn’t worried, however. Knowles said he has already helped a friend, Ignacio Nunez of La Fiesta Grande, when he first started the now successful restaurant.

&uot;He took nothing and really turned it into something. I hope that I can do the same,&uot; he said.

The building, which has been vacant for eight months, was badly in need of repairs, but Knowles said his experience as a former maintenance man had served him well in getting it to a condition where it is almost ready to open.

McDonald said he takes pride in the effort that his friend is putting forth.

&uot;He is a good person. He will be ready to go soon. All he will have to do is to have good food and I will see to that,&uot; he said.