By Roni Gehlke
Name of Business: Fix It Automotive
Type of business: Automotive repair shop
Owner/manager: Detrich Burks
Founded: October 2009
Address: 2210 W. 10th St., Antioch
Phone number: 925-777-1947
Hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday appointment only
Number of employees: Four
Products and services: Fix It Automotive offers transmission work, oil changes, free electronic road check, engine light diagnostic testing, free brake inspections and 39-point courtesy inspection.
How did you get into the business: "My father was a master mechanic, and as I grew up I discovered my love for getting underneath the hood and bringing an automobile back to life," Detrich Burks said.
The best part about the business: "I really enjoy getting up in the morning and starting a new day," Burks said. "Going into the office and feeling a sense of comfort when I see the satisfaction and joy on the customer's face."
He also said that just knowing that he helped make a difference in a customer's life makes all the work that he did on their automobile worth it.
The worst part about the business: "As mechanics we are stereotypically viewed as snakes — meaning customers are not very happy to see us and due to some people being taken advantage of previously we are not trusted," Burks said.
He said to counter that, at Fix It Automotive they look at it as a challenge in doing their part to change the person's perception.
"Once they come in and see that we are here because of them and we only want to assist them with the services that they need, and what we quote them is what we charge, they are extremely happy. So we take joy and pride in accepting that challenge."
The key to success: "Our key to success is providing gold standard quality service while being a positive active fixture within the community," he said.
The biggest misperception about the business: "Mechanics are only out to take advantage of people, but at Fix It Automotive we are all about breaking those stereotypes and giving customers a great rewarding feeling when they walk in and out of our doors," Burks said.
On the future plans: Fix It Automotive recently celebrated its official grand opening. The owner also plans to raffle six automobiles throughout 2010. Even though they have recently opened, they are seeking to expand in the future. Burks also wants to be a positive influence in the community by speaking with youth, mentoring students and providing seminars and workshops for future mechanics.
— Roni Gehlke
This blog is dedicated to articles that have run in the East Bay Times (East Contra Costa County, California), Brentwood News, Oakley News, Antioch News, Pittsburg News written by community columnist and correspondent, Roni Gehlke.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Business spotlight: Antioch's Exotic Aquatics specializes in tropical, salt- and fresh-water fish
By Roni Gehlke
Name of Business: Exotic Aquatics
Type of business: Aquatic specialists
Owners: Michael and Catharina Mathews
Founded: Exotic Aquatics moved to Slatten Ranch in October of 2009 from its Somersville Road location where it had been for five years.
Address: 5759-E Lone Tree Way, Antioch
Phone number: 706-8855
Hours: Noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
Number of employees: two
Products and services: Exotic Aquatics specializes in tropical, salt- and fresh- water fish. They also have a selection of reptiles, frogs and geckos and a large selection of invertebrates. They also have a wide selection of aquatic supplies, including tanks, stands, coral, decorations, driftwood, lace rock, rainbow slate, live and silk plants. They also have a varied selection of fish food, including live, frozen and dehydrated. They have a selection of books on setting up fresh- and saltwater tanks. They also carry terrarium supplies and decorations. Fish and others items can be special ordered.
How did you get into the business: "This has been a lifelong hobby for both of us," Catharina Mathews said. "We decided to take our hobby one step further by opening a store."
The Mathewses first opened their store on Somersville Road and found that over the past few years the stores had been closing around them and their wasn't a lot of walk- in traffic where they were located, so they decided to make the move to the busy Slatten Ranch shopping center.
Best part about the business?: "The incredible behavior of the fish," she said. "Their intelligence can be seen in the way they interact."
Mathews said that when some of the fish see her coming they dance around the tank to get her attention.
She said they also like the fact that they get to share their hobby with others and enjoy spending time with the customers who have like hobbies.
Worst part about the business?: "These fish become my babies and it is hard to sell them," Mathews said. "You just can't replace fish that have a personality."
Key to success: "Having people support the store owners," she said. "That is appreciated and a help for success."
She also said that it helps that both she and her husband are biologists and are able to use their knowledge to help people when they are having a problem with their fish becoming sick. Also, with having been working with the business and their hobby for so many years they are able to help people set up their tanks and keep them fresh and clean.
Biggest misperception about the business: "A lot of people think that it is hard to set up a tank and keep it clean," Mathews said. "We show people techniques on how to get it started and keep it well-maintained — all of which is easy."
Future plans: Right now the Mathewses are working on expanding their customer base and keeping the store up and running in its new location. There are always new chances to bring in new fish and new products on a regular basis, she said.
— Roni Gehlke
Name of Business: Exotic Aquatics
Type of business: Aquatic specialists
Owners: Michael and Catharina Mathews
Founded: Exotic Aquatics moved to Slatten Ranch in October of 2009 from its Somersville Road location where it had been for five years.
Address: 5759-E Lone Tree Way, Antioch
Phone number: 706-8855
Hours: Noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday
Number of employees: two
Products and services: Exotic Aquatics specializes in tropical, salt- and fresh- water fish. They also have a selection of reptiles, frogs and geckos and a large selection of invertebrates. They also have a wide selection of aquatic supplies, including tanks, stands, coral, decorations, driftwood, lace rock, rainbow slate, live and silk plants. They also have a varied selection of fish food, including live, frozen and dehydrated. They have a selection of books on setting up fresh- and saltwater tanks. They also carry terrarium supplies and decorations. Fish and others items can be special ordered.
How did you get into the business: "This has been a lifelong hobby for both of us," Catharina Mathews said. "We decided to take our hobby one step further by opening a store."
The Mathewses first opened their store on Somersville Road and found that over the past few years the stores had been closing around them and their wasn't a lot of walk- in traffic where they were located, so they decided to make the move to the busy Slatten Ranch shopping center.
Best part about the business?: "The incredible behavior of the fish," she said. "Their intelligence can be seen in the way they interact."
Mathews said that when some of the fish see her coming they dance around the tank to get her attention.
She said they also like the fact that they get to share their hobby with others and enjoy spending time with the customers who have like hobbies.
Worst part about the business?: "These fish become my babies and it is hard to sell them," Mathews said. "You just can't replace fish that have a personality."
Key to success: "Having people support the store owners," she said. "That is appreciated and a help for success."
She also said that it helps that both she and her husband are biologists and are able to use their knowledge to help people when they are having a problem with their fish becoming sick. Also, with having been working with the business and their hobby for so many years they are able to help people set up their tanks and keep them fresh and clean.
Biggest misperception about the business: "A lot of people think that it is hard to set up a tank and keep it clean," Mathews said. "We show people techniques on how to get it started and keep it well-maintained — all of which is easy."
Future plans: Right now the Mathewses are working on expanding their customer base and keeping the store up and running in its new location. There are always new chances to bring in new fish and new products on a regular basis, she said.
— Roni Gehlke
Owner offers new flavor with Asian restaurant
By Roni Gehlke
Name of Business: Renee's Asian Island
Type of business: Restaurant
Owner: Kenny Zhao
Founded: November 2009
Address: 2525 Main St., Oakley
Phone number: 925-679-1888
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday; 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday; 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Restaurant closes Monday through Friday 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Number of Employees: nine
Products and services: Asian cuisine specializing in Chinese and Japanese food. Sushi bar on site. Special feature is Hawaiian-style tuna poki salad, the Godzilla roll with tempura shrimp, tuna, salmon and hamachi and the Big Kahuna with tuna, salmon, spicy crab topped with tobiko and green onion. It also has added an Oakley roll featuring thin, sliced cucumber with spicy tuna and crab.
Renee's Asian Island also features several soups on its menu, including the Japanese Miso soup. Its chef specials include a salt and pepper prawn, spare rib, chicken wings and calamari deep fried dish. Menu also features hot garlic sauce chicken wings, twice cooked pork, Mongolian chicken and beef and Kong Pao chicken. It offers a create-your-own sizzling iron plate with vegetables, pork, beef, chicken or seafood.
From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, it offers a lunch special featuring several menu favorites. It offers takeout, eat-in and delivery, as well as catering services for special events.
How did you get into the business?: After Zhao moved to the area, a friend told him about a man who prepared sushi in Brentwood who was looking for a new place to work. Zhao liked the area and wanted to create a new business here. After hearing that a restaurant was coming up for sale, he decided that with a few changes he could make it into the business he was trying to create.
Best part about the business: Zhao said that he likes the look of the new business. "I put all my heart into the design of the business," he said. "It now has a nice, clear, bright presence."
The former restaurant at the location served traditional Chinese food. The storefront property was decorated with bamboo and Chinese lanterns, which Zhao thought gave it a closed-in, cluttered appearance. While developing the idea for his restaurant, Zhao's hope was to open up the space available and give it more of a wide-open feel.
He doesn't have any art on the walls and added different seating to make it look bigger. He also built a sushi bar in the back corner.
Worst part about the business: So far, Zhao said he hasn't found a worst part.
Key to success: Zhao said that offering a variety of food and making sure the plate looks good is really the key to success for him. He can't let anything go out to his customers that doesn't look 100 percent right. He also believes in using fresh, quality foods.
"Another thing is to make sure that we listen to the customers and what they want to eat," he said. "It is important to serve the community."
Biggest misperception about the business: The previous restaurant at Renee's Asian Island was a traditional Chinese restaurant. Zhao said that people will find that his restaurant offers both Chinese and Japanese cuisine with a large variety of fresh sushi sold.
Future plans: In the spring when more people are looking for entertainment outside the house, Zhao hopes to offer music and karaoke in the restaurant. "There aren't a lot of places for people to go in Oakley," he said. He is hoping to offer some fun entertainment.
— Roni Gehlke
Name of Business: Renee's Asian Island
Type of business: Restaurant
Owner: Kenny Zhao
Founded: November 2009
Address: 2525 Main St., Oakley
Phone number: 925-679-1888
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday; 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday; 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Restaurant closes Monday through Friday 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Number of Employees: nine
Products and services: Asian cuisine specializing in Chinese and Japanese food. Sushi bar on site. Special feature is Hawaiian-style tuna poki salad, the Godzilla roll with tempura shrimp, tuna, salmon and hamachi and the Big Kahuna with tuna, salmon, spicy crab topped with tobiko and green onion. It also has added an Oakley roll featuring thin, sliced cucumber with spicy tuna and crab.
Renee's Asian Island also features several soups on its menu, including the Japanese Miso soup. Its chef specials include a salt and pepper prawn, spare rib, chicken wings and calamari deep fried dish. Menu also features hot garlic sauce chicken wings, twice cooked pork, Mongolian chicken and beef and Kong Pao chicken. It offers a create-your-own sizzling iron plate with vegetables, pork, beef, chicken or seafood.
From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, it offers a lunch special featuring several menu favorites. It offers takeout, eat-in and delivery, as well as catering services for special events.
How did you get into the business?: After Zhao moved to the area, a friend told him about a man who prepared sushi in Brentwood who was looking for a new place to work. Zhao liked the area and wanted to create a new business here. After hearing that a restaurant was coming up for sale, he decided that with a few changes he could make it into the business he was trying to create.
Best part about the business: Zhao said that he likes the look of the new business. "I put all my heart into the design of the business," he said. "It now has a nice, clear, bright presence."
The former restaurant at the location served traditional Chinese food. The storefront property was decorated with bamboo and Chinese lanterns, which Zhao thought gave it a closed-in, cluttered appearance. While developing the idea for his restaurant, Zhao's hope was to open up the space available and give it more of a wide-open feel.
He doesn't have any art on the walls and added different seating to make it look bigger. He also built a sushi bar in the back corner.
Worst part about the business: So far, Zhao said he hasn't found a worst part.
Key to success: Zhao said that offering a variety of food and making sure the plate looks good is really the key to success for him. He can't let anything go out to his customers that doesn't look 100 percent right. He also believes in using fresh, quality foods.
"Another thing is to make sure that we listen to the customers and what they want to eat," he said. "It is important to serve the community."
Biggest misperception about the business: The previous restaurant at Renee's Asian Island was a traditional Chinese restaurant. Zhao said that people will find that his restaurant offers both Chinese and Japanese cuisine with a large variety of fresh sushi sold.
Future plans: In the spring when more people are looking for entertainment outside the house, Zhao hopes to offer music and karaoke in the restaurant. "There aren't a lot of places for people to go in Oakley," he said. He is hoping to offer some fun entertainment.
— Roni Gehlke
Around Oakley: Three local teachers who died last month will be greatly missed
By Roni Gehlke
DURING DECEMBER three Oakley teachers passed away, leaving their current students, as well as past students, to remember them. Most of the students heard of the loss of their teacher right before school left on break in mid-December, but when they came back earlier this week the reality of the loss became that much more apparent as new teachers were arranged to take their place.
Lisa Moyer was a kindergarten teacher at Vintage Parkway School who lost her battle with breast cancer. She passed away on Dec. 14 at the age of 38. She was an Oakley resident and active in her children's groups and organizations, including the Contra Costa Children's Choir and the Aquaknights, a local swim team.
On Dec. 17, Freedom High School drivers' education teacher Charles "Ed" Smith died in a motorcycle accident on Neroly Road in Oakley. In a story written about him after his death in the East County Times, students were quoted as saying they enjoyed Smith's classes. He worked for the Liberty Union High School District for 20 years. He taught at Freedom High School for 10 years of those years. Smith was the announcer at Freedom basketball and football home games.
Ivania (Sequeira) Galindo was in a car accident on Dec. 8 on the corner of Cypress Road and Main Street. At the time she felt pain and was sent to the hospital. While she still felt pain she thought she was OK on Dec. 17 when she let friends know that she would still be hosting a holiday cookie party that Saturday. Sadly, she died suddenly on Dec. 18 from injuries sustained in the accident.
Galindo, 45, was a special-education teacher at Delta Vista Middle School. She taught a class that would help students with various learning and other disabilities.
On Dec. 22, her family held a memorial for Galindo at Delta Vista Middle School, after finding out that their church didn't have enough room for as many people they suspected would attend. Before the service they had thought about 200 people would come. In the end, 450 people attended the memorial service.
I had the chance to get to know Galindo personally a few years back and visited her classroom often. Her smile could light up a room. It takes a lot to be a teacher, but to be a special education teacher takes an extra special person. She was especially proud of her children and gave them 110 percent.
When people die we think of their family and friends and how they are going to handle the loss of the person. When a teacher dies there is a whole other group of people affected by their loss.
Most people remember a teacher from their school days who made a difference in their life. I can remember my first-grade teacher, Miss Shark, and how she spent extra time with me helping me to write because I was left-handed and everyone before her tried to get me to write with my right hand. Remember this was more than 40 years ago.
These teachers made a difference in the lives of Oakley's children every day. They will be missed.
Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.
DURING DECEMBER three Oakley teachers passed away, leaving their current students, as well as past students, to remember them. Most of the students heard of the loss of their teacher right before school left on break in mid-December, but when they came back earlier this week the reality of the loss became that much more apparent as new teachers were arranged to take their place.
Lisa Moyer was a kindergarten teacher at Vintage Parkway School who lost her battle with breast cancer. She passed away on Dec. 14 at the age of 38. She was an Oakley resident and active in her children's groups and organizations, including the Contra Costa Children's Choir and the Aquaknights, a local swim team.
On Dec. 17, Freedom High School drivers' education teacher Charles "Ed" Smith died in a motorcycle accident on Neroly Road in Oakley. In a story written about him after his death in the East County Times, students were quoted as saying they enjoyed Smith's classes. He worked for the Liberty Union High School District for 20 years. He taught at Freedom High School for 10 years of those years. Smith was the announcer at Freedom basketball and football home games.
Ivania (Sequeira) Galindo was in a car accident on Dec. 8 on the corner of Cypress Road and Main Street. At the time she felt pain and was sent to the hospital. While she still felt pain she thought she was OK on Dec. 17 when she let friends know that she would still be hosting a holiday cookie party that Saturday. Sadly, she died suddenly on Dec. 18 from injuries sustained in the accident.
Galindo, 45, was a special-education teacher at Delta Vista Middle School. She taught a class that would help students with various learning and other disabilities.
On Dec. 22, her family held a memorial for Galindo at Delta Vista Middle School, after finding out that their church didn't have enough room for as many people they suspected would attend. Before the service they had thought about 200 people would come. In the end, 450 people attended the memorial service.
I had the chance to get to know Galindo personally a few years back and visited her classroom often. Her smile could light up a room. It takes a lot to be a teacher, but to be a special education teacher takes an extra special person. She was especially proud of her children and gave them 110 percent.
When people die we think of their family and friends and how they are going to handle the loss of the person. When a teacher dies there is a whole other group of people affected by their loss.
Most people remember a teacher from their school days who made a difference in their life. I can remember my first-grade teacher, Miss Shark, and how she spent extra time with me helping me to write because I was left-handed and everyone before her tried to get me to write with my right hand. Remember this was more than 40 years ago.
These teachers made a difference in the lives of Oakley's children every day. They will be missed.
Roni Gehlke is an Oakley resident. Reach her at ourbackyard@comcast.net.
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