A&R Plumbing
1720 Contra Costa St., Sand City (831) 394-7221, aandrplumbinginc.com
They repair everything from sewer lines and gas lines to consumer fixtures like household faucets and toilets. And that’s not the only old-school part: While the plumbing industry has largely transitioned to a flat-rate billing model, A&R bills by the hour because they believe it’s more transparent and fair to the customer. Beyond that, they’ve been building trust over generations: In 1974, friends Greg Aeschliman and Kelly Roper opened A&R (ironically just about the time Watergate gave a new meaning to “plumbers”). Now, Roper’s daughters and son-in-law manage the place. “We’re here every day answering the phone,” Michelle Roper says. “You don’t get a recording when you call, you get people.”