JOE AND SUSAN STEFFEN, LONGTIME BENICIA RESIDENTS, have moved their store, The Steffen Collection, Antiques, to 627 First St. after operating the company 12 years in Martinez.

“We offer all types of antique and vintage collectible items, furniture, Bakelite, linens, depression glass, china, crystal, silver, pottery, art, clocks, lighting and mirrors. You never know what you might find,” Susan Steffen said.

“We had the same business name in Martinez. We were located at 811 Main St., and we moved the store to Benicia because we live here. It’s so great to be in Benicia!” she said.

One thing shoppers are likely to find in the store is Athena, the family’s golden retriever — “our official welcoming committee,” Steffen said.

They’ll also hear the ticking of clocks, both those for sale as well as those brought in for repair. Joe Steffen has turned his skills in clock repair into a fundraiser for those seeking a cure for histiocytosis, a disease of the immunity cells.

“Joe loves to tinker and fix all things mechanical, and befriended a retired clock repair professional who gave him basic clock repair guidance to learn this exacting trade,” Susan said.

“Joe started repairing clocks bought to sell in our store in 2001. With the birth of his granddaughter, Grace, 9 years ago, the idea of using clock repair to raise money for reseach to find a cure for histiocytosis came to be.

“As a result of people’s generosity, over $9.500 in tax-deductible contributions were raised in 2012. We wish to thank everyone for the kindness and generosity,” she said. Clocks can be dropped off at the store during business hours, and no appointments are necessary.

The store’s hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

Loft Wine Bar offers out-of-the-ordinary selections

Jason Diavatis, the event planner who has been running Bay Area Entertainment since 1993, has opened The Loft Wine Bar at 280 First St.

Since he wants those who come in to try something different, The Loft doesn’t carry the kind of selections shoppers might find in supermarkets.

Instead, Diavatis and his wife, Natalia, are focusing on wines they have screened themselves, many from Solano, Sonoma and Napa counties.

For instance, during a wine tasting Jan. 23, The Loft will feature the wines of Gundlach Bundschu of Sonoma, the oldest family-owned winery in California.

“We carry unique wines,” Diavatis said. “Why would you come here for what you can get anywhere else?”

He said he enjoys introducing people to new wines they may never have tasted before. “And we have to like them. If they don’t sell, we drink them!” he said.

While some are the same high-end varieties diners may order in exclusive San Francisco restaurants, Diavatis said he has negotiated with small-producer wineries to offer tastes at $15 a glass.

“We strive to be different in every way,” he said.

The Loft has wine education events at $20 for each person, with seating limited to 20. The next is Wednesday, when Diavatis will offer tasters a chance to sample six to 10 cabernets. The wine bar also has a wine club.

Diavatis said he wanted to open the wine bar here “because I was born and raised here.” He’s poured wines at the Benicia Certified Farmers Market and during First Street occasions, not to mention designing San Francisco-based events for such stars as rapper and producer Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.

Hours for The Loft Wine Bar are 5-10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1-10 p.m. Saturday and 1-7 p.m. Sunday, though other hours can be arranged by appointment.

Benicia BarHopper changes name, service

Toni Schmit, who has been operating the Benicia BarHopper since 2008 and Amore Limousine Service since 1998, is changing the name of the BarHopper to “Benicia Hopper.”

In addition, she is expanding its targeted clientele from just bars to include restaurants and hotels.

“I am targeting 17 locations in Benicia, and if I get enough to participate we will continue the program,” Schmit said.

She said she also is going to promote the service among Benicia’s older residents who may be reluctant to drive, and to those who do not have cars.

Companies contract with the Benicia Hopper for service, which will pick up patrons, take them to the clients’ addresses, then return them home.

“I am proud to say the BarHopper has made Benicia a safer place for everyone in the community for almost five years,” Schmit said. She said the “hopper” service has been operating every day since it began.

“We make 150 to 200 trips a week. That’s a lot of people. People don’t want this service to end,” she said.

Along with the name change, Schmit may have a vehicle change in the future. “I am hoping to upgrade from the van we are using now to a limo,” she said.

“I have considered it my way of community service and giving back,” she said, even when keeping the service going has meant spending her own money. “I have three drivers who volunteer their time to drive the BarHopper and appreciate any tips the passengers may give them.”

Those interested in contracting with Benicia Hopper may email toni@amorelimoservice.com or call 707-864-0111.

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.

Submissions need to answer the questions who, what, when, where, why and how, preferably in the body of an email, and provide contact information.

Deadline is 3 p.m. Friday for news items that will appear in the next Tuesday edition’s Benicia Business Beat. Please email news releases and accompanying high-resolution photographs and logos to beniciaherald@gmail.com, and put “Attn. Business Beat” in the subject line, as well as the name of the business.

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