EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS photo by JoSh cozine
15 MINUTES
THE GOODS
All tuned up
rebuilding, reconnecting
Brenden Stevens first started repairing instruments back in 2008, apprenticing under 60-year veteran repair specialist Chuck Madere at a small family music shop in Southern California. In that time, Stevens says he’s worked on literally thousands of instruments. Also an avid musician, he can play every instrument he works on, ensuring they are 100 percent operational before he’s done with them. Early in June, his brother, a piano technician at Chico State, reached out and told him about a specific need for his repair services in the area. He’d heard that Ed Luce, the owner of North Woodwinds, was planning to retire and sell his business, causing some worry in the music community. Stevens, knowing that summer is the busiest season for repairing and maintaining instruments due to school breaks, quickly moved north. After finding his bearings and meeting with locals in Chico’s music and musical instrument repair scene, Stevens first opened up his business out of his home. By Sept. 1, he had opened his current office and repair shop at 574 Manzanita Ave., Ste. 5. Stevens offers free repair estimates on brass and woodwind instruments, as well as evaluation services and even the occasional refurbished instrument for sale. Find Brenden A. Stevens Band Instrument Repair Specialist on Facebook, or call 720-3161 to schedule a time for a repair estimate.
Cnrsweetdeals.newsreview.Com
How was the move?
sionals earn their livelihoods.
I’d been up and visited the area a lot over the years visiting family, and it was one of those places where I could see myself moving if the right situation came up.
How has business been?
Where do you get your tools? It’s an accumulation effect. There are a couple of big manufacturers of band repair tools, and you have to make a lot of the tools yourself or adapt another for the job. My mentor passed on many of his tools to me, which was a big honor to me to continue my career using the same tools he used for so many years in his memory.
What do you like best about your work? One of the reasons I like this business is you really play a role in the musician’s success. It sets students up for success for learning and staying interested in music, and it helps local profes-
With the start of the school year, it was great to get set up in here. It’s off a busy [freeway] exit, and real close to The Music Connection, which makes it easy for them to send people here for repairs, or for me to send them over there for accessories or other purchases. There’s been quite a few people that found out about my location through word of mouth, which has been really huge. With a service, I believe word of mouth is really important. Putting your instrument in the trust and care of someone—it’s not always easy for people. Especially if they’ve had their instrument a long time. You kind of develop a bond with your instrument. So to be new in town, and to make the connections I have, it’s just been awesome. —JoSH CoziNe
by
Meredith J. Cooper meredithc@newsreview.com
I find myself in Paradise, Magalia and the other areas affected by the Camp Fire less often as the months go by. If nothing else, my trips tend to be more focused— to attend meetings at the Paradise Alliance Church or interview folks at their homes—than exploratory. The transformation, from smoky, ashy ghost town to now has been both sad and inspiring. The spring sunshine that coaxed green to poke out of the otherwise dead landscape provided the first glimpses of hope— for me, at least—that the area could, and would, rebuild. As new businesses open and reopen, I try to stop by while I’m in the area. So, a few weeks ago I popped in to Nic’s, the Ridge’s first completely new restaurant to open since the fire. Longtime businesswoman Nicki Jones already had reopened her popular Bobbi’s Boutique clothing store, in a new space on Skyway downtown, and she decided to transform the old Wine Room, which shares the building, into an eatery/bar. I’ll attest to the warmth of the place—people were chatting, checking in on each other as the town was in the midst of a PG&E blackout (the restaurant was being powered by a generator). Next time I’ll stop in for a meal. Just last week, after attending a morning-long summit on wildfire preparedness, I decided to check out another new business, Jen’s Place, also on Skyway. Opened by Jen White, who’d reimagined King’s Tavern into the White Water Saloon, which burned down, her spacious namesake bar took over space left vacant by a charter school, one patron told me. To look around, one would never guess it. The woodwork is amazing—I love the sliding barn door in the pool table room, and the bar stools are similarly rustic. There’s a large stage and even larger dance floor, plus a second game room behind it. I recognized the bartender, Amy, from her time at Chico’s DownLo. She said she was happy to be back slinging drinks in Paradise, reconnecting with her people. Cheers to that. Driving through Paradise, one only has to throw a rock to hit a food truck these days. Since Jen’s doesn’t serve food, I set out in search of a quick snack to munch on during my ride back to Chico. I almost missed the first one, literally across the street, in the spot previously home to Kalico Kitchen. I felt compelled to stop for two reasons: the angus burgers advertised on the truck and the fact I’d just reminisced in my Camp Fire essay (see page 19) about this very location. Looking up, the melted Kalico sign is still there. So is the oddly intact patio, with new furniture for “dining in.” I ordered a cheeseburger from Robbie’s Paradise Burgers, to go, and while I’d prefer a bigger patty (they serve quarter-pounders), everything was delicious. The fries were perfection.
Shopping in chico Don’t forget, for the next two Fridays (Dec. 13 and 20), meters in downtown Chico are free! So, shop locally. (Time limits still apply.)
DONATE YOUR CAR Cars For A Cause
helps support Arc’s Family Support Programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families when you donate your car. * 100% Tax Dexuctible * We accept Vehicles Running or Not
* Free Vehicle Pickup * We take care of all paperwork and DMV
Make a difference in your community, call TODAY!
Call 343-3666 December 12, 2019
CN&R
15