Uniquely is a Modesto Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Central Valley so special.

If there’s one thing that can be said about Modesto, it’s that the people who care about the town do so passionately.

I’m sure a few names come to mind when reading that — and two of those may be Sam Pierstorff and Ruhi Sheikh.

The Modesto power couple, as I’ve come to know them, are the proud new owners of Queen Bean Coffee & Social House.

Pierstorff and Sheikh purchased the 116-year-old house turned coffee shop in September. But it wasn’t a quick process.

The six-month-long escrow was due largely to challenges in securing financing. The couple were turned down by the first bank where they applied for a loan.

“We were gutted because we knew that the seller was on a bit of a timeline,” Sheikh said.

Despite getting a “no” right off the bat, Pierstorff and Sheikh decided to try again.

“We both just knew what would happen to (Queen Bean) if we didn’t buy it,” Sheikh said. “I don’t think we’ve ever been more determined in our lives.”

The seller, previous Queen Bean owner Debra Martinez, received other offers from businesses including a law firm and an insurance company, “but nobody really wanted Queen Bean the coffee house,” Pierstorff said.

The couple got their “yes” on the next try from Valley First Credit Union. The credit union focused on the couple’s concept rather than their financial background, they said.

Pierstorff and Sheikh received a loan to purchase the property and pay construction costs. Their renovation plans include rebuilding the outdated deck and updating the kitchen.

Why was it so hard for them to receive financing?

“I work for a nonprofit. He’s a teacher,” Sheikh said. “That’s the income bracket.”

It takes much more than occupations to help define Pierstorff and Sheikh, though.

Pierstorff is a former Modesto poet laureate, former State Theatre board president, two-time contestant on “American Ninja Warrior,” creator and host of The ILL LIST, executive director of Modesto Artists Movement and a Modesto Junior College English professor — to name a few accomplishments.

And Sheikh has collected a healthy list herself: Modesto Porchfest co-founder, Stanislaus Community Foundation administrative assistant, vice president of the Stanislaus County Commission for Women, partnership manager at Stanislaus Partners in Education, Modesto Children’s Museum advisory council member, and mother of three.

Pierstorff met Sheikh at CSU Long Beach when he was finishing a graduate program in English and she was pursuing her undergraduate degree.

He was teaching part time at local community colleges and wanted to find a full-time position. Sheikh suggested he apply beyond Southern California.

“I was like, ‘What exists outside of Southern California other than San Francisco?’” Pierstorff said. “Truly ignorant to the entire Central Valley.”

Modesto Junior College offered him a job, the couple moved to Modesto in 2000 “and never looked back,” he said.

Pierstorff was 25 and Sheikh was 21 when they made the move. They got married the same year and started a family.

When the couple landed in Modesto, Pierstorff hit the ground running, engaging in the community by starting a poetry slam at Prospect Theater Project, which has led to a bigger event, The ILL LIST, at the State Theatre.

Though it was she who suggested the move outside of Southern California, the adjustment to an unfamiliar place did not come as easily for Sheikh.

“I fully floundered,” Sheikh said. “I’m an introvert, so I wasn’t gonna be like Sam and go to all the things. I just wanted to sort of be miserable for a minute.”

The couple had a son in 2001, and through Me-wuk Child Development Lab — a preschool program on MJC’s West Campus — the couple became connected with a network of families “that were doing really cool things,” Sheikh said.

From there, the couple enrolled their son in Fremont Open Plan, where Sheikh began helping out in the classroom and volunteering at events.

“It gave me the confidence to branch out and see what else was out there,” she said.

Sheikh was a stay-at-home mom for more than a decade before meeting Kate Trompetter through mutual friends.

Together, and with Tricia Rosenow, they started Mod Shop in 2013 — an event held annually the Saturday after Thanksgiving at downtown Modesto businesses where local artists and creatives can sell their wares.

“That sort of catapulted my interest in supporting moms who were very much like myself — who had a crafty side to themselves and were motivated but didn’t want to have a full-blown business,” Sheikh said.

But now she does have a full-blown business, as Queen Bean is her brainchild.

“This is her time to launch,” Pierstorff said. “This is her vision. She’s CEO. So that’s fun to watch.”

Reflecting on her time in Modesto, Sheikh said, “I just feel like Modesto gave me a safe place to land — even though I cried the whole first year that I moved here.”

She missed life in Southern California at first, but said Modesto gave her an opportunity to figure out who she wanted to be.

“All of our best friends and all of our family still live (in Los Angeles) and they’re so sick of me saying, ‘Modesto really is magic,’” Sheikh said. “The reason why I say that is a lot of the momentum that we’ve been privileged enough to experience is genuinely because the connections you make are real.”

Pierstorff said the same passion for bolstering the community did not exist when the couple were in Long Beach. Part of the reason is because larger communities already have everything, he said, so you have to try to plug yourself into those pockets. Modesto, on the other hand, is rich with possibilities.

“We love this community and we’re just trying to share that,” he said. “Not everybody loves the community as much as we do and they’re just missing networking or connections or events.”

That’s what the couple’s vision is for Queen Bean: to create a space to highlight local artists, creators and small business owners, as well as to provide a safe hangout for the city’s youth and a place to form connections and network.

Also, to give back to the community that has poured into them.

“Everything we do is like a love letter to Modesto,” Pierstorff said. “The community is behind us, so how can we lose?”

To stay up to date with events and new information about Queen Bean Coffee & Social House, visit facebook.com/queenbeancoffeehouse.

This story was originally published November 6, 2024, 3:10 PM.

The Modesto Bee

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Dominique Williams writes about new business, restaurant and retail developments for The Modesto Bee. She is a Ripon native and a graduate of Sacramento State.

Inside Look is a Modesto Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.

You ever dream you’re on an island somewhere, then wake up and you’re still in Modesto?

That’s what eating at Cariblue Restaurant on Yosemite Avenue is like, but not disappointing. The new eatery serves Caribbean food — the only spot for this type of cuisine in the city.

The flavors of Cariblue’s cuisine will make you feel like you’re in Jamaica — and you don’t even have to get on an airplane.

“Caribbean food is very tropical,” owner Abel Cano said. “We (make) it like you are at the ocean.”

The restaurant opened Sept. 27 between Starbucks and Little Caesar’s in the Cost Less Parking lot. The location previously housed George’s Gyros.

Cano was born in Guatemala and moved to Redwood City around 16 years old. His mom started teaching him how to cook a year later — though the restaurant industry wasn’t his first career venture.

“I wanted to be a doctor,” Cano said. But medical school proved too expensive for the family man with a wife, two kids and a baby on the way.

He switched lanes and became a computer network technician, working at Intel in San Jose. He also became certified as an electrician.

Cano’s mom gave him a wake up call one day, motivating him to do what he loved: cooking.

Thirty years from the age he first started learning how to cook, Cano opened the original Cariblue Restaurant in Redwood City in 2015.

That restaurant, at first, had a mixed menu. It served breakfast and lunch with menu items highlighting traditional Mexican and Caribbean dishes.

Why? Because Guatemala’s culture is a mix of Spanish, Mayan and Caribbean influences.

“It’s very close to the islands,” Cano said. “In Guatemala City, they don’t have (Caribbean food) but if you go out of Guatemala City to the Caribbean side, you will see all this kind of food.”

But as his customers began getting a taste of the Caribbean, they wanted more. So much so, Cano transitioned his menu to solely Jamaican.

Nearly five years after opening his first restaurant, Cano brought his family to Modesto. His wife, Lulu, has a daughter who lives in Modesto and convinced the couple to make the move.

He didn’t consider opening a restaurant here at first, but Cano eventually felt a need to bring Caribbean food to the region.

“For four years, I noticed that they don’t have Caribbean food around here,” he said. “I said, ‘It’s time.’”

Caribbean food — as Cano describes it — is a different flavor in every bite.

Jerk chicken and oxtails are two of the most commonly ordered dishes. You can get them in a combo plate with rice and beans as well as sweet plantains for $18.99.

Other things on the menu include curry shrimp or goat, chipotle barbecue ribs, jerk polenta and fried corn bread.

The rice and beans are made with coconut cream. The plantains are like eating dessert, Cano said.

The meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. One Yelp reviewer said “the homemade jerk season sauce was fabulous and I could drink it.”

Other Yelp reviewers praise the large portions, flavors and friendly service.

“I’m the chef, I’m the owner, I’m the dishwasher. I’m everything,” Cano said.

Cariblue, at 3801 Yosemite Blvd., is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Delivery is available through DoorDash and Uber Eats. Catering is available through ezCater.

As of now, the Modesto restaurant is the only existing location of Cariblue. Cano could not renew his lease in the building where the original restaurant was because apartments will be built on that land, he said.

Cano is not sure if he will re-open in Redwood City.

This story was originally published October 18, 2024, 4:15 PM.

The Modesto Bee

209-253-9007

Dominique Williams writes about new business, restaurant and retail developments for The Modesto Bee. She is a Ripon native and a graduate of Sacramento State.

Modesto, CA (December 7, 2024) – A serious traffic collision occurred on westbound SR 132, just east of Stone Ave, at approximately 12:12 PM. Emergency responders from Modesto Fire and Rescue and AMR quickly arrived on the scene to assist the victims involved. The crash involved two vehicles: a white GMC Acadia SUV and a semi-truck with an empty car hauler trailer. The GMC Acadia was severely damaged, with major front-end damage reported. The semi-truck was also involved, and the GMC was partially trapped underneath it, making the situation more complex.

At least one person sustained major injuries and was transported to the hospital for further treatment. Emergency crews worked diligently to clear the wreckage and provide medical assistance to those injured. The semi-truck driver was reported to be uninjured. The collision caused significant traffic disruptions as both vehicles blocked lanes and required towing to clear the area. The crash is under investigation, and authorities are working to determine the cause.

Traffic Collisions in California

Traffic accidents on California’s highways are common, especially on routes like SR 132, where large trucks and passenger vehicles share the road. This incident, involving a semi-truck and a white GMC Acadia, serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by commercial trucks and the need for careful driving around such large vehicles. The fact that the GMC Acadia became partially trapped under the semi-truck underscores the seriousness of the crash, which could have resulted in even worse outcomes had emergency responders not arrived promptly.

This type of incident, particularly when a large vehicle like a semi-truck is involved, can lead to severe damage to smaller vehicles. The response from local emergency teams was swift, and the injured individual was promptly taken to a hospital for treatment. The collision blocked westbound lanes, leading to traffic delays, but the road was eventually cleared.

Authorities will continue to investigate the cause of the crash, and drivers are urged to remain vigilant when driving near large commercial vehicles. Safe driving practices and heightened awareness are essential for preventing such serious accidents in the future.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a traffic collision in the Modesto area, seeking professional legal advice or support from an accident expert can help you navigate the challenges ahead. Local Accident Reports is here to assist in your recovery and ensure you receive the necessary support during this difficult time.

An updated tsunami warning was issued by the NWS National Tsunami Warning Center on Thursday at 11:24 a.m. in effect until 12:24 p.m. The warning is for Coastal North Bay Including Point Reyes National Seashore, North Bay Interior Valleys, San Francisco Bay Shoreline, San Francisco Peninsula Coast, Mendocino Coast, Southwestern Humboldt, Northern Humboldt Coast and Coastal Del Norte as well as San Francisco County.

"If you are located in this coastal area, move inland to higher ground. Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring. Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. The first wave may not be the largest. At 10:44 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on December 5 an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.0 occurred 45 miles southwest of Eureka California. Estimated tsunami start times for selected sites are; Fort Bragg California 11:10 a.m. PST. December 5. Crescent City California 11:20 a.m. PST. December 5. Port Orford Oregon 11:20 a.m. PST. December 5. Brookings Oregon 11:25 a.m. PST. December 5. Charleston Oregon 11:40 a.m. PST. December 5. San Francisco California 12:10 p.m. PST. December 5," says the NWS.

This warning is in effect until 12:24 p.m.

When it comes to tsunami alerts, understanding the levels of risk is crucial. The NWS classifies them into four distinct categories:

Tsunami warning: Immediate action required

A tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours or days after initial arrival. Follow instructions from local officials. Evacuation is recommended. Move to high ground or inland (away from the water).

Tsunami advisory: Exercise caution

When a tsunami with strong currents or hazardous waves near the water's edge is expected or occurring, a tsunami advisory is issued. Flooding in beach and harbor areas may occur. Stay out of the water and follow instructions from local authorities.

Tsunami watch: Be prepared

A tsunami watch is initiated when a distant earthquake occurs, raising the possibility of a tsunami. People in affected areas should stay tuned for updates and be prepared to take action if necessary, even though the threat isn't immediate.

Tsunami information statement: No immediate threat

This statement is issued when an earthquake has occurred, but there is no threat of a destructive tsunami. In some cases, the earthquake may have been too distant to pose any danger.

There may not always be enough time for an official warning for tsunamis, so it is important that you understand natural warnings. If you are at the coast and feel a strong or long earthquake, see a sudden rise or fall of the ocean, or hear a loud roar from the ocean, a tsunami may follow. This is your warning. Take action and move to a safe place. Do not wait for official instructions.

Source: The National Weather Service

This article was generated by the CA Weather Bot, software that analyzes structured information, such as data, and applies it to articles based on templates created by journalists in the newsroom. No human journalist was harmed in this experiment. You can report errors or bugs to mcclatchybot@mcclatchy.com

This story was originally published December 5, 2024, 10:55 AM.