Steve Benson, one of Sacramento’s finest and most beloved men’s clothing store owners, died in September from complications of the motor neuron disorder ALS, or Lou Gehrigs’s disease. He was 76.
Steve founded S. Benson & Co. fine men’s clothing in 1995. The East Sac shop was a high-end boutique with exceptional style and inventory.
Treasured for his old-school service, Steve was expert at custom-fitting clients or helping choose ready-to-wear apparel. Fathers and sons became generational clients.
A year after the shop opened, Steve decided to advertise with an upstart local newspaper, Inside Sacramento. As a new publisher, I considered him the perfect small business owner who might benefit from a 100% community publication.
S. Benson & Co. advertised for nearly two decades. Steve was featured in our book “Inside Sacramento: The Most Interesting Places in America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital,” published in 2016.
His exquisite taste and understanding of men’s clothing were formed early.
“Our mother was very fashion conscious, always wanted us to present ourselves as nicely dressed,” Mark Benson, Steve’s younger brother, says. “Steve listened. It resonated with him. She planted a seed, and he grew it. As a child he was a master of color, and he always put together superb outfit combinations.”
Steve graduated from Burbank High School and received a fine arts degree at UC Davis. His retail career began at Weinstock’s department store. He soon joined Irwin Clothing Co., the city’s premier men’s store in those days, where he worked for more than 20 years.
At Irwin, he learned the trade and established himself as clothier to many of the city’s most influential people.
“Steve came to work with my father when he was 18 years old. I was 3 years old at the time,” says Richard Weintraub, whose father Irwin founded the store in 1960. “Steve would have dinner with my family six nights a week and would often babysit me and my sisters.
“Steve approached life in a meticulous way and made certain to instill these behavioral attributes in me. I count him as the most generous, thoughtful and principled person I have ever met.”
Steve lived in Land Park with Susan, his wife of 47 years, and son Alex. Running S. Benson & Co. was a family affair.
“Being married to a small business owner required patience and understanding as Steve built his business and client base,” Susan says. “Steve worked long hours, often without a day off.”
Alex recalls, “At the holidays the store became more family-oriented as we helped wrap gifts and deliver purchases to customers. It wasn’t a common job like other kids’ parents had growing up. But I never had to worry about my clothes growing up.”
Steve served on the board of the Sacramento Children’s Home, supported his son’s activities at Christian Brothers High and enjoyed local theater.
My friend Lisa Schmidt and I sometimes brought Steve lunch in the store. We caught up on family news and neighborhood gossip.
Steve understood people and knew how to connect. He told me, “I think I understand you. You put incredible energy into the betterment of our community and experience a high degree of social interaction in the process. But you also need adequate down time alone to recharge your batteries.”
I’ve never forgotten those words. They were 100% accurate and prompted me to work on finding balance. What a gift Steve gave me!
He made people feel valued. He took time to know them, get a sense of their lives and what they enjoyed.
Steve’s death marks the end of an era, the passing of an extraordinary small business owner who realized his dream of working for himself in service to clients and community.
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Cecily Hastings can be reached at publisher@insidepublications.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
