Don and Barbara Steinman believe in running an "old-fashioned-style business" — a philosophy that made their Bonita-based Redington Land & Cattle Co. store successful enough to prompt them to open a branch in Safford.

"We got too large for the back yard in Bonita," Don said at the Safford store's official grand opening Nov. 18.

The name Redington comes from the couple's Redington Ranch near Redington Pass northeast of Tucson. After the Steinmans sold the ranch, they moved to Bonita and opened the Redington Land & Cattle Co. While they do not sell land or cattle, they sell just about anything ranchers need to manage their land and livestock.

Don and Barbara Steinman stand behind a Whizzer motorized bike in their new Redington Land & Cattle Co. store in Safford. Photo by Diane Saunders

The Steinmans opened the Safford branch about a year ago — after they secured a 25-year lease with the city of Safford for the store site at the southwest corner of Discovery Park Boulevard and Highway 191. The lease of the 1.5-acre site also has a 20-year renewal option, Don said.

The new Redington store did not have a grand opening earlier because it seemed there was never an official opening day. While the Steinmans were building the branch store, customers and curiosity seekers just started coming, Don said.

Inside the store is an eclectic collection of saddles and shirts, boots and bicycles and a variety of other ranching items.

"If we don't have it, we'll get it," Don said. "If we can't get it, you probably don't need it."

Barbara added, "We've kind of gained the reputation for finding the unusual."

The unusual items displayed at the Safford store include Whizzer motorbikes. The Whizzers are motorized bicycles that resemble 1950s-era Schwinn bicycles that featured "balloon" tires.

Whizzers were introduced in 1939 by Breene-Taylor Engineering as bicycle motor kits. These kits were replaced by premade motorized bicycles with improved components, according to Whizzermotor-bike.com.

Redington also sells fencing, corral panels, water tanks and propane gas. The store also sells and rents trailers.

The Steinmans strive to provide good customer service — the kind most people in small towns expect. Don said listening to the customers to learn what their needs are is important.

Barbara said they believe in selling quality products for fair and reasonable prices.

In addition to ranchers, Redington's clients include the federal government, the military, mining companies, Indian nations and private industry, Don said.

The Safford store is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information call 348-8800.