'Nicest people I met': Dog the Bounty Hunter seen embracing Marco Island community

It's not every day you grab a slice of pizza with a star. For Marco Island residents, it's becoming a new normal.

Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman and his wife, Francie, have been spotted around the Collier County barrier island since calling it home. Both locals and fans have been eager to snap a quick photo with the reality star.

Facebook groups have lit up with users spotting the couple dining in adored local establishments throughout Southwest Florida. Recently they were seen at Sami's Pizza and Grill, a fan-favorite pizza joint among islanders on Collier Boulevard.

Sami's owner Sami Rahman said the Chapmans have been regulars at his restaurant for the past three months, dining roughly every other week since they purchased property on the island. One of the nicest people I have ever met, Rahmon said about the pair he's gotten to know over the last few months.

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"We recognized him on the spot because he was a very unique guy; whenever he comes in, people love to talk to him," Rahman said. "(He) deals with a lot of people, people having dinner, people taking pictures with him. He's always happy to take pictures and talk to people."

He said it's hard for them to keep a low profile, but the couple is friendly to everyone who comes up to them, adding that their presence in the community has been great.

"It's a great experience when people like them come in and the way that he's so humble, talking to everyone and taking pictures," Rahman said.

So, what's his favorite dish? Lobster ravioli with brandy cream sauce.

The News-Press spoke exclusively to Francie last month, getting an inside look into how the two found each other due to a chance phone call and what eventually lead them to join the Marco Island community soon after.

"The people are just wonderful here and we're starting to build community and get plugged in … everybody has just been so incredible. It has amazed and floored me how embracive people are over what we're doing," Chapman said back in March.

Chapman detailed their upcoming mission in Collier County, looking to purchase roughly five acres of land in Naples to start recovery houses for abused women in Southwest Florida. She said the couple has already seen an outpouring of support for their program from the Marco Island community, even seeing members reach out to help.

Rahman heard about their goal and said he was excited about the work they are doing for locals.

"That's such a great thing that he's doing. In fact, I have a friend of mine that was there (Sunday night); she's the customer that she was talking to him because she does the same thing," Rahman said. "She does therapy and stuff like that. And she was blown away by their project and how they get into helping people."

Throughout this new adventure, Chapman said she was grateful to have Duane by her side and knows they were meant to find each other.

"At the beginning, I really thought that (we met) because we had gone through such similar things and God was really changing my life and helping me get healed from my grief, and getting healing for what I was going through … I really thought that that's why God brought me into his life was to help him," Chapman said. "I didn't realize at first that it was this, it's so much bigger than just that. It was God using us to change people's lives. It was this love story that God brought us together."

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Dog the Bounty Hunter: Reality TV star embraces Florida island life