It has been said that when one door closes, another door opens. In the case of 632 First St., it is two doors that will be opening to bring two new businesses into the space, both offering different models but sharing the same philosophy. The address that spent a period as Benicia’s post office and […]
Barber retires after 52 years of cutting hair in Benicia
Fred Caballero prided himself on his barbershop. He made a place where everybody knew your name and everyone was welcome to sit down, banter about sports or local goings on, and get their hair cut. After 52 years of cutting hair in Benicia, Caballero will be retiring and passing Fred’s Barber Shop on to his […]
Mother, daughter take over Benicia dance academy
Military East’s dance school might have a new name and new owners, but as they say in show business, the dance goes on. Mother and daughter Carla Farnsworth and Juliet Farnsworth-Henry have taken over Stage One Dance Center and renamed it Farnsworth Dance Academy. After 25 years of running Stage One, Julie Sevier made the […]
City to host first Business Walk today
This morning, businesses in or near the downtown are going to get a visit from Benicia’s Economic Development Board (EDB) for the city’s first-ever Business Walk. As part of the Business Walk, EDB members will be visiting local establishments and talking to the owners or managers about their businesses and how to build relationships with […]
907 Grill changes menu to attract new customers
Millennials killed the menu at 907 Grill. Rest in peace, old 907 menu. Don’t worry though. There’s a new menu at 907 Grill, and millennials are to thank for it. Tucked away at 907 First St., 907 Grill has grown a loyal customer base and become a destination spot in Benicia since it first opened […]
New Tannery business captures aesthetic
Benicia can best be characterized by the parts it is composed of. Within its city limits, Benicia has a host of nautical culture and influence centered at the Marina and the waterfront. In addition and contrast to this beach feeling, Benicia is home to rolling grassy hills with grazing cattle, a taste of the country […]
Downtown Business Alliance advocates for keeping tree lights on
Anybody who has walked down First Street has definitely seen the decorative lights wrapped around the trees giving off an illuminating glow. What may not be common knowledge is that these lights were brought by the Downtown Benicia Alliance (DBA) in 2012 as part of the Business Improvement District (BID) program. The goal of the […]
Local painting company passes brush to new owner
It began with two friends in a coffee shop. Jack Kemper and John Martin would meet with one another, order a cup of joe and discuss everything under the sun. One day, Kemper told Martin he would be retiring from his contracting business, Jack Kemper Painting, and he wanted Martin to take over. Martin was […]
Benicia Business Spotlight: Viewing history through threads at Pocket Monkey Vintage
The building this business rests in was originally built in the 1880s, making it one of the oldest pieces of history we have on First Street. At its base however, there is a very clear clash with some modern looking black tile which was installed in the 1950s. It is only fitting then that Pocket […]
In Harmony Music enriches children’s lives through song
Babies: they laugh, cry, brighten our world, keep us up at night and are our future. Parents always want the best for their kids and for them to excel in whatever they choose to do in life. Justine Chadly, founder and owner of In Harmony music, is a mother who had– and certainly still has– […]