BIZ BEAT: RC David closing; Dewz will take spot

The RC David furniture shop in downtown Modesto is closing, and next-door neighbor Dewz Restaurant plans to expand into its space.

RC David owner Ron David said he will retire at the end of the month. His shop has sold furniture, home décor and accessories at J and 15th streets for nine years.

David named the business after his first initial and his wife Carol's first initial. He said the decision to retire at age 63 was a difficult one.

"I have to slow down. It's a lot of work, you get tired and have to slow down," David said.

He said he plans to work part time elsewhere until his wife retires from Modesto City Schools.

The shop is running a retirement sale and has a poster in its window thanking Modesto for its support. He said longtime customers will be the hardest to leave.

"My customers have been so special," he said. "My customers are friends and family."

The shop has three part-time and one other full-time employee. The store, at 1501 J St., will close June 30.

After that, neighboring Dewz, 1501 J St., will take over the 1,500-square- foot space and expand to add a wine and cheese lounge. The space will be an extension of the existing restaurant and house the business' $100,000 Italian wine-tasting machine.

The addition will allow people to taste 60 wines and buy by the glass or the bottle. Dewz will have a selection of meats and cheeses for sale.

Co-owner Scott Aspesi said the restaurant has been planning a wine lounge for five years, when the equipment was bought in Milan.

The lounge will seat about 20, with a pouring area at the bar. The tasting equipment will give people a one-ounce sample of one of 40 wines on tap.

"We've been wanting to do this for a long time now, but we're also sad to see Ron go. We told him we could wait," Aspesi said. "But now we're ready to move forward."

The wine and cheese lounge should open by the end of August.

Call RC David at(209) 236-1501. Call Dewz at (209) 549-1101.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

Two business closures have been of note recently.

In downtown Modesto, the Extreme Pizza on 11th street has closed. The San Francisco-based pizza franchise opened in that location in 2005.

Also, Johnathan's Fresh Fish & Meat II on Oakdale Road has shut down. The business's other store, Johnathan's Fresh Fish & Meat on Standiford Avenue, remains open.

Have an item for Business Beat? Contact Marijke Rowland at The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; (209) 578-2284 or mrowland@modbee.com.