Sam and Gia Tran, former hosts at Rrags Coffee Shop, 1383 East Second St., are back as the new management team at the site.

In addition, they’ve made changes at Rrags that range from longer hours to lower prices, as well as new breakfast and lunch entrees, including selections that are gluten-free.

The Trans have new specialty coffee blends they roast on order with a day’s notice, Sam Tran said.

New hours are 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Breakfast and lunch menus are available each of those days.

Tran said he’s expanded the eatery’s breakfast choices and added spicy hot drinks, baked goods, quiche and freshly squeezed orange juice to the menu.

Among the new lunch selections are hot links and turkey pesto sandwiches. Desserts include individual banana breads and cashew-caramel cookies, some of which are gluten free.

Retailers can learn Tuesday how to boost profits

Retailers can learn techniques during an afternoon seminar Tuesday that will help them boost profits, said Charles Rieger, Solano Small Business Development Center interim director.

Bruce D. Sanders, consumer psychologist and retailing consultant, will teach how setting prices, launching sales promotions, increasing the size of a purchase and assuring returning clientele will help a company’s bottom line, Rieger said.

Participants will receive a copy of Sanders’s book, “Retailer’s Edge: Boost Profits Using Shopper Psychology.”

Wells Fargo Foundation has given the center a grant to underwrite the program, so there is no charge to participate. Class size is limited to 20. Participants will receive no-charge, one-on-one follow-up counseling by the center’s business advisers.

Those interested may register prior to the workshop by calling 707-864-3382 or through the website www.solanosbdc.org.

The seminar will take place from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday at Solano College Vallejo Center, 545 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo.

Pups N’ Purrz marks anniversary

Through June 21, Pups N’ Purrz, 422 First St., will celebrate its one-year anniversary, owner James Long said. The commemoration began May 21, he said.

Long said $1 tickets will be sold to a drawing for a grand prize that will be given away June 21.

All money raised through ticket sales will be donated to the Humane Society of the North Bay, formerly known as the Benicia-Vallejo Humane Society, as well as to Umbrella of Hope, a pet rescue group that will be at Pups N’ Purrz June 21 with dogs available for adoption, Long said.

Sonoma Raceway forms ‘Fan Council’

Sonoma Raceway has chosen 14 fans to be the 2014 Fan Council, raceway spokesperson Diana Brennan said.

The inaugural panel will speak directly to track personnel about what they experience at racetrack events, and provide suggestions for improving the raceway’s operations and what it offers.

Brennan said the panel is a cross-section of fans who will serve one term, providing observations after events and attending a group meeting in fall to give an overview of the 2014 season.

The council’s first meeting will be June 21, during the weekend of the Toyota/Save Mart 350, a NASCAR Sprint Cup road race. Members will attend all major event weekends throughout the season. Brennan said the track will release the results and action items that result from the panel’s feedback.

The Benicia Herald’s weekly Benicia Business Beat column is an opportunity for local businesses and companies to tell our readers about such news as moves, grand openings, awards, promotion of employees, staff changes and changes in goods and services.

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