Boatyard Center sells for $13.1 million to Larkspur firm, one of many ownership and property upgrades underway in Fort Bragg- check out new Cafe 1!

While grim national headlines continued every day, Fort Bragg was quietly seeing good news, a major infusion of private investment from businesspeople betting on the town’s future.

(Note: This article covers several long‑time iconic businesses that recently changed hands. The businesses are not connected to one another except that each now has new ownership.) We will be adding details to this story as they come in, so check back.

Iconic Fort Bragg businesses and properties are getting major reinvestment and long‑overdue repairs, with no loss of local autonomy. In several cases, the businesses weren’t locally owned to begin with — but now have owners more committed to fixing them up.

The Boatyard Center, Chapel by the Sea, the Company Store, the Grey Whale Inn, Well House West, and the old Makela Boathouse have recently been purchased by owners committed to improving conditions for customers and employees. Upgrades are happening far more quickly than Fort Bragg is used to seeing. The city is also in the process of acquiring Haywire — the former Western‑wear store on Elm Street — to serve as the new headquarters for MCN. The city will lease it at first, with an option to buy.

Meanwhile, the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District is considering acquiring the old Rite Aid building, originally constructed as a Safeway. And the Skunk Train is building a new mini‑train attraction to tour visitors around its emerging new station.

During our adventure in land records, we were surprised to learn that Sierra Railroad Holdings — the parent company, not Mendocino Railway, the Skunk line itself- was the buyer of the Company Store. Earlier in the year many parcels from subsidiaries like Sierra Northern Railway who owned part of the millsite were transferred to Sierra Railroad Holdings. We asked about this and were told by Robert Pinoli this was a paperwork issue not worthy of a news story.

Another big story that just got started is the Cafe One two story restaurant, which is being built on the site of the Piedmont Hotel- at Oak and Main. The Piedmont was destroyed by an arsonist in a series of fires launched by monied people in Fort Bragg in what was darkest hour of the 20th century for Fort Bragg. Now a new chapter begins, a mixed use restaurant and housing structure. Cafe One will be moving from rented digs on the north end of town. The plan was approved by the Fort Bragg Planning Commission in 2024. The 3,805-SF restaurant at 102 South Main Street. will include an indoor restaurant comprising 2,780 SF on the first floor and 750 SF on the second floor, as well as 990 SF of outdoor deck dining and 507 SF of outdoor patio dining. The
project also includes 3,165 SF of landscaping; 10 parking spaces, including one ADA space and one EV charging space; and associated site sidewalks, utilities, gas tank, and trash
enclosures.

Another major sale was the purchase of Mendocino Coast Pharmacy by Mendocino Coast Clinics. We support the local pharmacy, and the clinic is now able to use its nonprofit status to obtain discount medications for working people and low‑income residents. That sale did not involve the building; the pharmacy building on Cypress Street next to the hospital is still owned by Parents and Friends.

We also have news of Subway, Roundtable and Grocery Outlet.

The Chiggen, one of California’s few fully restored steam engines, is back in town — and plans are underway for the longest Summer of Steam yet. The video here is from about 2024. At the same time, Sierra Railroad has purchased the Company Store, and additional plans are in the works for the line that remains a key tourist attraction for the Mendocino Coast.

The biggest sale is the Boatyard Center, which sold in late March for $13.1 million to Argo McMinnville LLC — the legal entity used by Argonaut Investments, a Larkspur‑based real estate investment, management and development company, to purchase the property in two pieces. Argonaut owns 39 other retail plazas. The seller, the Patten family, had originally listed the center at $18 million, a price in line with regional sales for a plaza of more than 100,000 square feet with several secure long‑term tenants, including anchor Harvest Market, the Dollar Store, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and the Boatyard Laundromat. Commercial real‑estate sources say the Boatyard looks like a real bargain. The lower price does partly reflect significant deferred maintenance, and the new owners have already begun addressing it.

Argonaut’s 40 centers stretch from Fresno to Redding, with nearby sites in Eureka and Rohnert Park — the latter home to Grocery Outlet, Panera Bread, and Chipotle. The company, founded in 1992, also operates plazas in Oregon, Washington, and Utah.

With the new owners of the Boatyard comes the first new tenant: the Redwood Coast Regional Center, now relocated from 270 Chestnut Street in Fort Bragg. The Center has significantly better parking at its new site, in the space formerly occupied by a physical‑therapy practice. The Regional Center serves the developmentally disabled community under a state contract. It funds local programs such as Parents and Friends, oversees those services, determines what clients are eligible for, and provides a safe setting for developing Individual Service Plans (ISPs).

We spoke with the local man who is the leasing agent, Jim Kimball, over breakfast at David’s Deli, his favorite regular breakfast spot. He said he has visited each business in the plaza, talked with the tenants, and asked about their concerns and their impressions of the new owners so far.

Tenants told us maintenance had fallen far behind for years, and most said they’re relieved to see new owners finally fixing the place up — work that is already underway. The Boatyard looked spiffy on the outside but had hidden problems, such as roof repairs and other long‑deferred fixes. Tenants say the property owners, once responsive, had become hard to reach in recent years.

An open question is whether local businesses will be able to absorb higher costs once the upgrades are complete. We heard accounts of increased insurance requirements and of leases in which rents weren’t raised but full pass‑through costs were enforced for the first time. The hope is that small local businesses can survive the transition while the larger stores continue to thrive. People don’t want their favorite spots replaced with chains; the current mix of both works for a shopping community that includes upscale (for Mendo) and low‑income shoppers.

Kimball said the new owners told him they are committed to renovating the property and finding tenants who complement the anchor, Harvest Market, as well as the Dollar Store, O’Reilly Auto Parts, David’s Deli, and the Hospice Thrift Shop. One familiar business, however, appears likely to leave — though not because of the new owners. The Hospice Thrift Shop’s lease is up in October, and Adventist Health has indicated it cannot continue operating the business. We confirmed that the lease will not be confirmed, talking with the manager of the and Kimball. It’s unclear what will happen next. Kimball said he is committed to helping keep this important community effort running, even if it means finding a new location for the operators or supporting a transition to new leadership.

The Boatyard’s biggest challenge is visibility; many tourists don’t realize Harvest Market and the surrounding businesses are there at all. Signage on both Highway 20 and Highway 1 remains limited. Harvest owner Tom Honer fought the city over sign‑size restrictions back in the 1980s. Just before the pandemic, Harvest purchased a 14‑acre portion of the old millsite along Highway 1 — a parcel just south and west of Safeway — but with the millsite process moving at a crawl, the company sold the property to Sierra Railroad Holdings. Sierra now owns nearly all of the old millsite, except for the train station, which is held by its subsidiary, Mendocino Railway, the Skunk Train line, along with some parcels still titled to Georgia‑Pacific.

Argonaut has the advantage of extensive experience operating retail plazas. That expertise has clear benefits, but it raises a question: will a Bay Area–based approach — one steeped in chain‑store logic — fit the culture of the Mendocino Coast, which is markedly different? Chains are pretty much the only thing virtually everywhere but here, which is part of the reason people like coming here.

We stopped into David’s Restaurant, where Jim Kimball is one of owner Kira Klyse’s many favorite customers. The place was packed, with a line out the door. Does the new ownership understand that many in the community consider this business, and this owner, to be one of the treasures of the Coast? We’re sure Kimball will pass that message along. Klyse has long been known for her support of the community.

Kira said she doesn’t yet know what the plans are, but she’s glad new owners have stepped in and are managing things. She wants to stay. “I’m sure not ready to retire.”

Kimball said the new owners have outlined a substantial list of needed work, including reroofing, parking‑lot and sidewalk repairs, dry‑rot fixes, exterior painting, upgraded exterior lighting, pylon‑sign repairs, and restoration of the landscaping.

The tenants we spoke with said they welcomed the upgrades but some worried the new owners might not be as flexible with small local businesses as previous management had been.

Leasing strategy Kimball said the new company aims to add tenants that complement the businesses already in place, creating more of a full shopping experience. But shopping patterns on the Mendocino Coast differ sharply from those in the Bay Area, and some longtime Harvest Market customers may not embrace another chain outlet.

Leasing activity: Kimball is actively working to fill the vacant spaces, and signs of upgraded signage and improvements are already visible around the center.

We asked Harvest Market co-owner Jennifer Bosma what her reaction was and if the grocery store was going to be doing any more expansions

“With the new owners, Argonaut Investments, we are happy so far! At this time we are not doing any real estate; we have been focusing on initiatives to reduce pricing for our customers. Check out our Cadia Everyday products, INFRA ads and lots of TPR’s throughout the store (temporary price reductions). Plus 10% off days, the California Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program (we were the FIRST store in the state to launch) and more,” she said. Other tenants were worried about Harvest, which has a draw that formula anchors don’t have. Many thought Harvest has many years left on their lease, which they liked. We didn’t get the word from them.

William Patton proposed the Boatyard Center in 1980 and won city‑council approval in 1984. That same year, the city secured a $922,000 loan to build the center — a loan Patton later repaid.

The Pattons had originally hoped to develop the opposite side of the highway, east of the college, but community opposition to a proposed Grocery Outlet derailed that effort. In an email exchange, Greg Patton told us the Boatyard was successfully built in two stages, but a third phase was envisioned across the highway. We had understood that a gas station was also contemplated for that site and asked why local businesses couldn’t be part of the plan.

Patton’s clarification: “We had an agreement with Grocery Outlet and were in talks with Big 5 Sporting Goods. No gas station. The other shop spaces did not have allocated uses. There is no point in trying to attract small shop owners to a project that is still trying to get City approval. In total, we worked on those projects for 14 years and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the failed process,” Greg Patton told us in an email.

West‑side parcel: We have not been able to learn anything about the former? Patton land on the west side of the highway; it was not part of the recent sale.

Kevin traded for Kevin at Chapel by the Sea
Chapel by the Sea sale Four by Four Investments sold Chapel by the Sea at 445 East Fir to the Memorial Care Group of Washington state for $2.4 million in December. The Chico‑based investment firm transferred the Coast’s only funeral home to a Washington company that specializes in operating funeral homes. Both the former owners and the new ones were represented by men named Kevin, but the new Kevin and his firm have been investing money and expertise into the operation. The funeral director, Seth Ferguson, began working there during the pandemic, when he was often the one coming to people’s homes to transport the deceased.

Rebuilt old school mansion: The funeral home at 445 East Fir Street burned down in 2019 and has since been completely rebuilt in the grand style of the original converted mansion, with updated colors, making it one of the few nearly brand‑new buildings in Fort Bragg. Four by Four Investments, the seller, is based in Chico and was founded in 1999.

Ownership details: Daniel Roberts and Kevin Stiles signed the sale on behalf of Four by Four Investments, while Kevin Precht was listed for the buyer, Memorial Care Group. Roberts and Stiles, both from the Chico area, had owned the business since 1999 or earlier. Staff told us they liked the old Kevin, but said the new Kevin was even better, bringing investment and management that reflected his company’s funeral‑home expertise. Chapel by the Sea began operating in Fort Bragg in 1893 and moved to its current location in the 1940s, converting one of the stately homes on Fort Bragg’s “Pill Hill,” once the city’s most upscale neighborhood for physicians. That original grand home served as the mortuary until it was destroyed by fire in 2019. Fort Bragg once featured competing locally owned mortuaries. While local ownership is a thing of the past, the Coast thankfully missed the era of McMortuaries, when big national chains swept up classy mortuaries across the nation and cut them to bare bones, engaged in exploitative practices, hidden fees and many other abuses documented. Investigative journalist Jessica Mitford is widely credited with exposing this practice across the nation in news articles and her 1963 book, The American Way of Death. As far as we know, those chains never came here and their practices have declined elsewhere.

Funeral homes don’t get many Yelp reviews but we found this one:

“Seth, Omega and Janet truly made such a tragic moment in our lives, into something that has helped to start our healing journey. They are all truly compassionate and feel like we couldn’t have done this without them. Thank you all so much for taking care of our boy,” wrote a greiving mom named Kathy.

Original Safeway building spruced up by a musician, coffee lover.
Franklin Street sale: Jay McMartin Rosenquist sold 311 North Franklin Street to Kelley Diane Corten for $1.2 million last year. Corten, active in local business and the Fort Bragg music scene since arriving in town just a couple of years ago, has already given the building a fresh paint job. The property anchors the southwest end of Fort Bragg’s old downtown, on Franklin Street between Redwood and Laurel.

Anchor & Grind: Before buying her new building, Corten owned what may be the tiniest business in town — Anchor & Grind on Main Street. We first reported on KOZT News that she had purchased Well House West, and we interviewed her at the time of the sale.

Anchor & Grind expansion: Corten has moved from tiny, art‑packed Anchor & Grind next to Bragadoon on Main to buying one of the larger downtown storefronts. She plans to keep Anchor & Grind’s location and artsy identity while also offering coffee, pastries, and a curated selection of artisan products in the new two story space. She’s choosing her inventory carefully to avoid competing with existing merchants. Though she previously ran a yarn shop, she won’t sell yarn here because another Fort Bragg store already does. Instead, she’s focusing on items that can’t be found elsewhere locally, mentioning sheets and pillowcases as examples when we spoke.

Seller interview We weren’t able to include our interview with the seller, Jay, in the final story on KOZT.

“My mom remodeled it and added the second floor in 1981. Kelley moved here last year with her mom from the Pacific and her best friend Dawn moved here as well from San Francisco.”

Building history Jay told us the building had originally housed Fort Bragg’s first Safeway store and later became a Western Auto, the town’s first major auto‑parts chain.

Bowman legacy: Jay’s mother, the late Gayle Bowman, ran the business for many years, the family long regarded as part of Fort Bragg’s local royalty. Jay’s grandfather, Dr. Paul Bowman, is the figure we rank above all the lumber barons as the most important man in Fort Bragg history. The young, East Coast–born physician saved the new hospital from failing during the flu pandemic, married a nurse he met there, bought the hospital, and built a medical system that served the entire Coast. He became well known as an expert witness in major Bay Area murder trials, traveling from Fort Bragg, and also founded the local rhododendron society, breeding many of its celebrated varieties himself. He ran the hospital for half a century before helping establish the hospital district that served the Coast for another fifty years, until the transition to Adventist Health.

Sierra Railroad -not Mendocio Railway purchases The Company Store.
:We broke the story that the Company Store had been sold to the Skunk Train line. But when the documents were filed, they showed the buyer was Sierra Railroad Holdings LLC, not Mendocino Railway. Mendocino Railway is the Skunk Train operator and is owned by Sierra Railroad, which recently brought in new ownership through a merger. Mendocino Railway owns the train‑station area, while Sierra Railroad owns most of the rest of the millsite — and now the Company Store. We think the fact that Sierra Railroad, not Mendocino Railway, took title to the Company Store may be significant, but we have not figured out what that could mean, as the process is only beginning. Will the steakhouse planned for upstairs still be coming? While Sierra is shown taking title in the recorder’s office documents, the Skunk management has been involved with the property and a meeting with all tenants is planned.

Skunk Train under newly recreated Sierra: We’ve been told that nothing has changed locally for the Skunk despite the ownership shift, but we’ll see how that holds over time. The property changed hands at the end of April, and so far no significant changes have been noticed. We have the recorder’s office filing, but to get the sale price and other details, we’ll need to pull the documents in Ukiah. Once we have them, we’ll add that information to the story.

After publishing our original story, we learned that David, the former owner, had taken the statue of a Native American man that long stood at the entrance, along with the glamorous picture of his mother, another icon of David’s tenure. Plus the old family mailbox and some other “Kokko’s” memorabilia. The new owners put in some photos of fishermen lost at sea, worth checking out to replace some of the personal items taken by David, the former owner. The fabulous GP photo collection remains.

Track extension. We spoke with Chris Hart, an executive and member of the family that rescued the railroad from bankruptcy. We’d gone back and forth over whether describing a “new track” to the back of the building implied a new alignment. My position was that any new track has to come from an existing line, and it turned out to be a minor point. As we reported, one of the two sets of tracks behind the Company Store was extended so it now comes directly to the back door. The other set, a few feet to the west, already ran past the rear of the building.

Millsite ownership tangle We didn’t address the question of Sierra, not Mendocino Railway, owning the Company Store because we didn’t learn that until the county filings came through. To make matters more confusing, Georgia‑Pacific still owns a half‑acre behind the Company Store, and GP parcels remain scattered in several spots among the lands now held by Sierra Railroad and the station area owned by the Skunk/Mendocino Railway. It’s probably true many people don’t care, but this does make a difference as the owners follow different rules for property development on the railroad site and off. What is on and what is off?

“Mendocino Railway’s officers, directors, and shareholders haven’t changed. By shareholders, I mean owners. The people who own Mendocino Railway are the same. Also, my role remains unchanged,” Hart said.

Chiggen’s early return. While policy wonks and journalists may gravitate toward stories about ownership structures and future land use, many readers will be more excited about the early return of the Chiggen. The fully restored steam engine, owned by Skunk Train General Manager Stassi Pappas, is coming back to Fort Bragg earlier than ever for the 2026 Days of Steam season. It will operate on select weekends from June 27 through August 30 out of the historic Fort Bragg Depot. Guests can ride historic railcars pulled by the Chiggen along Pudding Creek and through the redwoods to the point where the tunnel collapsed, where an entertainment venue is now set up. Some people don’t like the unique whistle of the Chiggen.

As a kid, Stathi Pappas played on the Chiggen when it served as the roadside advertisement for a chicken stand in the Stockton area. He later brought the old steam engine home and restored it, and after becoming general manager here, brought it up to Fort Bragg — though how it comes and goes remains something of a mystery. Pulled by the historic Chiggen steam locomotive, also known as Santa Cruz Portland Cement No. 2, Days of Steam is a seven‑mile round‑trip ride. Originally built to support cement production for the Panama Canal and the rebuilding of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake, the locomotive later became part of early industrial ventures led by Henry J. Kaiser and Warren A. Bechtel. Days of Steam begins June 27–28 and runs every weekend — except July 4 and July 18 — through the end of August. Stathi has a lot of fun with his restored vehicle, bigger and heavier than even retired basketballer Karl Malone’s restored classic 18-wheelers. He takes it to other places on a special flatbed truck and then brings it back, which just happened as they get ready for the special summer. Like everything else, the whistle is done to be original, although not the whistle from old train movies.

Mini‑Skunk project: Stathsi now has something far more eye‑catching in the works: we are told he is working on a miniature Skunk line where you sit on the trains and ride, much like those at Confusion Hill, complete with small locomotives, tracks, and more, designed to run around the grounds of the new station. These are really fun to ride on.

The mini train cars are roughly the size of VW Bugs, and visitors will be able to ride them around the grounds of the new super train station we have seen glimpses of. The Skunk is proceeding with those plans, while plans for the development of the rest of the property are on a separate non-track. That part is being developed by Sierra, while Mendocino Railway develops the train station and runs the Skunk line.

New owner of Historic Makela’s boatworks plans to continue tradition of innovation

This is one we are developing a separate story on….the inspiring young couple with big new ideas for the old Makela’s Boathouse: No building on the harbor is more historic than the old Makela’s Boathouse. But one had to wonder whether anyone would ever buy a structure built with intentional holes in the roof, made of gorgeous old timber, and perched directly on the bank of the Noyo River at 19280 South Harbor Drive. It’s a one‑of‑a‑kind property — unique, historic, and redefining the idea of “waterfront.” But who would want it? It’s not comfortable housing, and its HVAC will always be whatever the weather provides. It turned out to be exactly the right place for Wild Blue Aquaculture, run by Jake and Aubree Gord. Jake, an urchin diver and entrepreneur, saw the potential immediately. Their fascinating story and plans are laid out on their website. Be sure not to miss it.

https://wildblueaquaculture.com

Urchin‑farming plan: They bought the building last year for $575,000. Jake and Aubree Gord’s plans could turn one of the Coast’s biggest problems — the purple urchin barrens — into one of its biggest assets by using the old Makela’s Boathouse to farm purple urchins for food. If a viable market for purple urchin can be established, the wild urchins offshore could be harvested. Those urchins are currently tiny and starving, but if thinned out and then harvested regularly, the hope is they could become a sustainable economic engine for Noyo Harbor.

We are looking into many other business stories. One is the property at the southeast corner of Oak and Main, which is being leveled, apparently for development. We are looking into whether a new owner is involved. Last we knew Miguel Orlando Mexcan bought the property in 2021 for $250,000, county records show. Did he sell? What is going on? We will be following up. His name is sometimes spelled Mex-Can and got garbled in the county computer.

The Grey Whale Inn is getting rave reviews!

Grey Whale Inn sale: Mendocinocoast.news also broke the story of the Grey Whale Inn being sold to the Dingman family, who have been enthusiastically working to bring the magnificent old hospital building back to life. It is widely regarded as the finest historic structure in Fort Bragg along with Cotton Auditorium and the Guest House.

Grey Whale Inn updates: We went by on May 16 and watched the upgrades going on. The old paint was coming off out front and you could see the green and under that, the original color, white, as it was a hospital Mr. Dingman told us that Nutone Day Spa will have a spa upstairs and a salon downstairs.

The Grey Whale Inn’s Facebook page is now filled with historical material and guest reviews. The property’s website is at greywhaleinn.com. The Dingman family paid $1.1 million for the building, which had sat unused for several years, and they have clearly invested heavily in upgrades and renovations. The inn remains open and guests enjoy hearing about and seeing the historic restoration., we found.

There was one set of reviews all brand new, for the Longshoreman’s Cabin on the Airbnb site. 
Zach, who has been an Airbnb member and reviewer for 5 years, gave 5 stars after he stayed one night in May:
“The hotel was very charming and very well-kept. It was well-worth what we paid. Natalie provided a walk-through of the grounds, instructions on entering the building after hours if needed, and provided local recommendations. They had a beautiful breakfast spread for mother’s day as well. Rooms were clean and well-designed without clashing with the old charm of the building.”
Nina from San Francisco also gave 5 stars. She and her family brought a dog.
“The Grey Whale Inn was fabulous! Us and our pup felt right at home. We loved the historical building and vintage interior elements. The bed was very comfortable and Natalie and the team were so friendly and hospitable! It feels like a very special place and we are excited for whats to come with the space. We enjoyed the proximity to town and beaches. We will definitely be back!”
Ashley also gave 5 stars. She’s been doing reviews on Air B and B for 8 years.
“This place was a literal gem! The inn was beautiful inside, great decor, and room was spacious and clean. The host was very responsive and friendly. She had great recommendations and definitely made sure everything was going okay. The inn is a 10-minute walk to Glass Beach, coastal trails, and 5 mins to the skunk train and downtown! I would in a heartbeat stay here again next time I go to Fort Bragg!”
Parker from San Francisco gave 5 stars for an early May 2026 stay.
“Fantastic place to stay in the area with a ton of character. Room was great and the service was excellent.”

What’s happening with old Rite Aid building?

The Mendocino Coast Recreation and Parks District was approached by owner Ronald Brashear, who has worked hard to find a tenant for the old Rite Aid building. We reported on his efforts last year, including his outreach to Trader Joe’s, which declined, but he remained undeterred. The district emphasizes that discussions are still very preliminary, but the proposal will be on the agenda for its May 20 board meeting. The board will also consider acquiring a long, narrow two‑acre piece of county property on Prairie Way, next to the Caspar Transfer Station.

Owners of Roundtable Chain work through bankruptcy filing, no impact seen locally.

Fat Brands bankruptcy: Fat Brands, the parent company of Round Table Pizza, is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company is being split up into at least four entities, pending court approval but nobody knows who any of the people behind the four new companies are. The Fort Bragg Roundtable franchise has seen no disruptions that we have heard about. In other parts of the country, Roundtable Franchises have been forced to close during bankruptcy over mismanagement at the CEO level, not the actual running of the restaurants, trade publications report.. Reporters who write about Fat Brands show us a pattern of stunningly bad mismanagement at the top, with spending far beyond revenues, yet little apparent consequence for executives operating in the overlap of government and corporate power where accountability is not a factor. The system simply reshuffles, and the business continues.. How Fat Brands’ bankruptcy could impact franchisees | Restaurant Dive

Grocery Outlet is making the dirt fly high!

Grocery Outlet plans: Grocery Outlet — a company long regarded as well‑managed but shaken by internal disputes and a rough down stretch since 2024 — remains fully committed to Fort Bragg. The company is pushing ahead enthusiastically and building its store at full speed.

Grocery Outlet approval path In our earlier coverage, we also broke this story — though the city issued a press release minutes after our call, which others quickly reposted. Grocery Outlet worked its way through the full legal process, was rejected for the headlands property then owned by the Patton family, and later navigated a long series of steps to secure City Council approval. The project drew an enthusiastic group of supporters as well as detractors, but the company met every requirement and is now moving ahead at full speed.

Grocery Outlet funny parallels A Grocery Outlet battle even more intense than Fort Bragg’s has been unfolding in San Francisco at the same time. There, the push was to bring Grocery Outlet into the lot long occupied by Safeway, which pulled out of its North Beach location — one of the most famous Safeway stores on earth- with a cultural footprint stretching back to the Haight’s glory days. That project faced delays similar to Fort Bragg’s, for somewhat different reasons and has only just begun construction. Online, people noted the plywood fence that went up in San Francisco, looking remarkably like the one that appeared here.

Fort Bragg is seeing something rare: momentum. After the horrific pandemic, years of stalled projects, legal fights, and empty buildings waiting for their next chapter, businesses are finally opening, rebuilding, or breaking ground. From the harbor to the millsite to the heart of downtown, people are investing again — not in theory, but in lumber, concrete, and payroll. It’s a reminder that a town grows not through press releases or promises, but through the steady work of people willing to bet on this place and build something real.

We will expand some of these into full stories. If you have tips or want to discuss local business, drop us a line at frankhartzell@gmail.com

Here is the story of the arson fires that ravaged Fort Bragg. Bruce Anderson of the Anderson Valley Advertiser reported this story, perhaps the biggest story of the 20th century in Fort Bragg.