Strictly Business: Business news from around the Valley, April 6

Stores closing, awards and hiring|

Farewells: The Wine Hardware store on Broadway, which also recently housed the Black Knight Vineyards tasting room, has closed. It will sell its products online at winehardwaresonoma.com.

Closing: Bella Vita, the clothing and accessories store on the west side of the Plaza next to the Loop is closing. The store is having a big sale in its last days open.

Scooteria to expand: Café Scooteria at 455 W. Napa St. (in the Safeway parking lot) has filed an application with the City of Sonoma to modify its existing food permit to add outdoor seating for 25 and a firepit in conjunction with a new wine/tap room on the property. The Planning Commission is expected to review the application at its Thursday, April 12 meeting.

New business: The (relatively) new Sonoma Pinery launched its online business in late 2017. Owner Sara Giudice sells handcrafted custom soy candles. sonomapinery.com

Frenchie update: Frenchie, the French food cart business that is moving into 521 Broadway, has applied for a liquor license, renovated the interior and arranged for Tesoro Flowers to sell arrangements in the shop. They will also be selling Sushinoma sushi and rolls and El Molino chips, salsas and tamales. Owners Sarah and Liz hope to open their doors on May 1 .

Awards: 40 under 40: The North Bay Business Journal’s 11th annual Forty Under 40 professionals for 2018 included two from Sonoma Valley - Nicole Benjamin-Sathre, 38, Handmade Events co-owner and co-founder; and Ari Weiswasser, 38, Glen Ellen Star owner and chef. The awards will be given out on Friday, April 20, 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Santa Rosa. These young professionals were selected by the Journal editorial staff from 191 nominations received in January. nbbj.news/40u40-18.

BGC changes: Staffing changes have resulted in a new leadership team at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley. Joe Hardeman has been promoted to director of programs and education. Carolyn Cadigan has been promoted to director of marketing and events. Michael Irvine has moved into the role of director of resource development. Hardeman, Cadigan and Irvine join new CEO Cary Dacy to make up the Club’s Leadership Team. The Clubs currently have 2,300 members in Sonoma Valley.

Hiring: There is an all-grade-level educator job fair at Sonoma State from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 6, in the student center.

Office space: The commercial building at 548 Third St. W. that currently houses two dentistry practices is now on the market for $1.4 million. The space is 4,000 square feet on a .25 acre lot. There are two freestanding buildings, both with ongoing leases.

Award: Marck Zuehlsdorff, president of Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley, recently presented Sondra Bernstein of the Girl and the Fig with a Paul Harris Fellow award in appreciation for her help during Rotary’s fire relief efforts.

Hiring: Hanson Distillery is looking to hire a tasting room manager for its new tasting room to be located on Highway 121 between Sonoma and Napa (in the old Ceja Brewery space). Search for the position on winejobs.com.

Ball players needed: The Napa Silverados is looking for local players to join the team. “We have a hunch that there is that diamond in the rough right in our backyard and we are hoping to find him,” Silverados manager Tito Fuentes Jr. said in a press release. The Silverados join Stompers in the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs this summer.

Moving: Penney Magrane’s Magrane Associates Landscape Design has moved from 746 Broadway to 362 W. Napa St. Magrane has designed custom gardens and landscapes throughout the Bay Area for the past 25 years. Visit magrane.com.

Email businews news to lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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