Aten wears many hats as entrepreneur

Between his businesses, David Aten Events and Daddy O’s Retro, Napa Valley entrepreneur, event planner and retailer David Aten wears many hats. 

“I am a mood maker,” he writes.

“When wearing my event planner hat, I am creating special spaces for guests to indulge their senses and stimulate their curiosity; often managing large budgets as I am tasked with creating value for my clients.”

When wearing his Daddy O’s Retro hat, “I am creating a retail experience that turns back the hands of time allowing you to immerse yourself in Americana pop culture.”

Daddy O’s Retro is located inside Antiques on Second in downtown Napa.

1. What was your childhood ambition?

To grow up and become the president of the United States.

2. What was your first job?

Mowing lawns and washing cars in my neighborhood when I was 7 years old.

3. What’s the worst job you ever had?

Working in the mail room in my sophomore year of college for a printing company.

4. What job would you like to try/not try?

Try: President of the United States.

5. How did you get into this business or industry?

I started working at age 7; mowing lawns, newspaper routes. Then when I turned 15 and got my worker’s permit in Monterey, I began a part-time job in the cookie shop on Cannery Row.

There was a busy family restaurant next to the shop, and I enjoyed the camaraderie of the service staff. I got a job washing dishes and soon became a busboy at Margaritaville in Monterey with my best buddies from high school.

When I entered college, I got a part-time job waiting tables at Ports O’ Call in San Pedro.

I was making great money waiting tables, and I loved the team spirit and camaraderie of the service industry that I stayed with it all the way through college.

In 1998, I graduated from San Francisco State University while I was still waiting tables part-time at Bistro Don Giovanni. One November afternoon in 1998, Melissa Teaff was in the restaurant and inquired if I wanted to come work some catering events with her company.

I became a full-time manager of Melissa Teaff Catering within six months. After nearly 10 years as a managing partner with the catering company, I decided it was time to adventure into the world and discover my next chapter.

Through meditation and the support of my friends, mentors and colleagues, I took the leap into becoming my own businessman, and I launched David Aten Events, a luxury lifestyle event production company.

During the pandemic, I began collecting yard art and creating a magical vibe for our guests that visited us and stayed in our airstream trailer.

I utilized the same “spirit of imagination and creativity” that I had refined in the event planning world and began designing the mood and magic of the space we call “home.”

I made a friend in my buddy Tom Ballentine, who owns Revolution Vinyl & Vintage, a retro antique store with a really cool vibe and energy in Duncans Mills.

I was inspired to begin manifesting another business. Daddy O’s Retro is a collection of American pop culture — from Playboy magazines to neon signs to Coca-Cola and surfboards and ponchos; and now we are offering everything music-related with a huge collection of vintage vinyl records and CDs to guitars, turntables, speakers, concert and movie posters and rock and roll jewelry.

6. What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Economic catastrophes (9/11; 2008; 2020); and natural disasters (2005 flood; 2014 earthquake; 2016/2017/2020 fires).

7. Who do you most admire in the business world?

My husband, Guy Barstad. He ran restaurants in Napa for 43 years before moving to Round Pond Estate Winery in 2018.

He is the front line of customer service and the leader of his teams; he earns the respect, admiration, friendship from all by treating all with kindness and respect.

8. What’s one thing Napa could do to help local business?

Reduce taxes and regulatory fees on small businesses.

9. What’s your favorite charity or nonprofit?

I work for a lot of great charities. Inspire Napa Valley for Alzheimer’s is on the top of the list as is Roots of Peace, The V Foundation, One Mind, Jameson Animal Rescue and Boys & Girls Clubs.

10. What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?

I grew up in Germany, just south of Stuttgart from 1975-1980.

Info: Daddy O’s Retro, 1370 Second St., Napa; David@Daddyosretro.com.