As with many premium product providers, the primary focus of Bentley San Francisco is service, building lasting relationship with their clients. But the legacy of Bentley San Francisco is how well it reflects the unique personality of San Francisco -- the distinctive combination of tradition and innovation.

The two San Francisco landmarks make a remarkable pair -- Bentley San Francisco, opened in 1933 and was the last Art-Deco building built in the area. With its original tile floor, brass accents and customer woodwork, and its sister building, an original Maybeck design built by the famed architect of the Palace of the Fine arts and constructed as a Packard dealership in 1927. Atop these classic edifices is the city’s largest commercial solar installation -- a tribute to the forward thinking approach of the company’s founder. These buildings support a dramatic, 287-kilowatt solar installation that includes two rooftop carports comprised of 1,606 solar panels, designed and installed by Solar City.

“This installation is particularly meaningful to us, because of the historical and aesthetic significance of the buildings,” said Peter Rive, SolarCity’s co-founder and chief operating officer for the solar installation company. “We worked closely with British Motors and the city of San Francisco to ensure that the design is consistent with the existing architecture, and we’re delighted with the result.”

“The solar carports are a fantastic addition to our business and look great on our buildings. We’re proud to have the largest commercial solar installation in San Francisco, and we have additional solar projects in the works for our other dealerships,” said Bentley San Francisco and British Motors’ chairman and owner Kjell Qvale. “We’re on the cutting edge of a green revolution.” “Mr. Q”, as he is affectionately called, is 89 years old and still comes to work daily. As the first importer of Jaguar to the West Coast in the 1940’s and the founder of the San Francisco Auto Show, Mr. Qvale has a healthy respect for tradition but has always kept his eyes to the future. Many of his dealership’s customers have been buying cars from him for decades.

The client list for Bentley San Francisco includes some of the most well known Silicon Valley new money entrepreneurs and CEO’s, as well as classic San Francisco family wealth. One aficionado of “The Flying B” is the San Francisco real-estate giant Walter Lembi. Walter is the owner of Citi Real-Estate group, whose parent company Skyline real-estate was originally founded by his father, Frank Lembi, in the 1940’s.

“I’m the only person to own four Bentleys two years!” exclaims Lembi. “I started out with a Bentley GT, but my father, who is 90 years old, had a hard time getting in and out of the car. After eight months I exchanged the GT for a Flying Spur. My father enjoyed it better.” Then he saw the newest Continental GTC in the elegant showroom window. “I loved the way it looked,” Lembi says. He drives the sporty Continental GTC with Mulliner Driving Specifications every day through San Francisco’s multifaceted landscape. For Lembi, understated elegance in a high performance machine is paramount in San Francisco. This city values sophistication and the ability to distinguish itself from the pack. The 09’ Flying Spur, released this fall incorporates the quality and design expected from Bentley, but is also loaded with upgraded features and technology.

The properties of the Lembi family reflect both the landscape and the culture of this city. “ San Francisco has tremendous history,” Lembi states. “The people who live here are loyal to the city.” From building to building, one finds Victorian era style, Art Deco splendor, or Modern designs that reflect the local neighborhoods.

In addition to the many residential spaces, the Lembi family  designed a number of hotels in the San Francisco tradition appropriately named Personality Hotels. Yvonne Lembi-Detert, Walter Lembi’s younger sister, is the President and CEO of the assortment of boutique Hotels. Centered around Union Square, all the Personality Hotels are within walking distance of the theater district, fine dining, and exclusive shops. Each hotel focuses on a specific theme. The Hotel Union Square, for instance, features the world’s only Dashiell Hammett Suite. Choose your personality and luxuriate in its theme. This fall Hotel Vertigo will be the newest personality in San Francisco.

Guests visit San Francisco for innumerable reasons. This is the city of the graceful baseball Hall of Fame icon, and good friend to Walter Lembi,  Joe Di Maggio and Barry Bonds, publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst & author Jack London. Residents of the City by the Bay understand and appreciate San Francisco’s unique fusion of tradition and innovation, especially when it comes to luxury.

Text and Images By Tansy Brook and C.A. DeNaissance