🌱 Healdsburg Steakhouse Details + Plaza Protest + Strip Mall For Sale

Hello, beautiful people of Healdsburg! It's a warm spring Tuesday in town and I'm here with your latest copy of the Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Let's get right to it.

First, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Fog and clouds turning to sun. High: 80 Low: 51.
• Wednesday: Fog and clouds turning to sun again. High: 77 Low: 50.
• Thursday: Same deal! High: 72 Low: 51.

Air over Healdsburg:

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Here are the top 4 stories in Healdsburg today:

1. It was a very busy Saturday in downtown Healdsburg! More than 200 protesters reportedly marched from Giorgi Park to the plaza area — where the big, fancy culminating event for the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience was being held that afternoon — to demand that local farms and wineries offer their workers hazard pay "for working during natural disasters such as wildfires and for losing income during heavy rains." They reportedly passed out flyers to attendees at the event. One farmworker in the group told the Press Democrat: "We want them to pay attention to the workers in the fields." Healdsburg City Councilman Chris Herrod was there, too. "I’m just super happy to see this happening in Healdsburg," he told the paper. "I think there is some concern by some people that this is sort of raining on the parade in terms of Healdsburg’s success, but I don’t think that’s true in the broader scheme of things. Most people in this community are very community oriented and want to see that everyone is treated fairly.” Former mayor Ozzy Jimenez was in attendance as well. He wrote on his Instagram: "I loved going to the Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience! We are out here with our gente advocating for justice in pay for frontline campesinos/agricultural workers during disasters! This is Healdsburg! Our pueblo came out in full force." Ozzy also thanked the North Bay Jobs With Justice org for helping plan the march. (Osvaldo Jimenez via Instagram & KSRO & Press Democrat; paywall)
2. Finally, some news on the Texas-style steakhouse that billionaire Bill Foley is building at 113 Plaza St., right next to Duke's Spirited Cocktails. He's naming it Goodnight’s Bourboun + Chop House after his great-great-uncle Charles "Chuck" Goodnight, who he calls a "trailblazing Texas Ranger" and "cowboy-entrepreneur" from the good old days. Here's what the blurb on the restaurant's new website says: "WELCOME TO THE WILD WEST OF CUISINE: HEALDSBURG’S PREMIER CHOP HOUSE. Located in the heart of historic Healdsburg Square, Goodnight’s Bourbon + Chop House is a local pioneer in a new frontier of classic Western-styling dining experiences. With a robust selection of bourbons and an expansive wine list, our restaurant delivers an adventurous cocktail program. And don’t forget about our unforgettable options of the finest chops in the area. ... GRAND OPENING COMING SOON!" The lady behind the Shop Local Healdsburg blog stopped by and got some footage of the bright-blue construction site. She writes: "This was a full excavation and wonderful to see how this space has been transformed! 💫" (Goodnight’s Bourboun + Chop House & Shop Local Healdsburg via Instagram)
3. Looks like that quirky little strip mall across Healdsburg Avenue from 7-Eleven, home to a couple of local spas and massage therapists, is up for sale. Right now it's priced at around $2.15 million. Here's what the real estate listing says: "Welcome to 837 Healdsburg Ave, a great and rare opportunity to own a unique mixed use investment property near the heart of Healdsburg. There are 5 Residential units and 2 Office units. A live-work opportunity. Its interior design features natural light, creating a bright and open atmosphere. The location is a big plus, with its proximity to the Plaza providing easy access to restaurants, cafes, retail shops, and other amenities of Healdsburg. Outside, the building features a well-maintained exterior with attractive landscaping and plenty of parking spaces. Also features a huge backyard with the potential to add more units. Investors take note, Opportunity is knocking!" (Redfin & Google Maps)

4. All the hard work that Healdsburg put into saving water over the past few years has taken a serious toll on city revenue, according to the Press Democrat. Basically, much less water use means much income from water bills. And as a result, local officials are reportedly scrambling to fill the hole in the budget caused by all our good behavior. As you likely know, they've already set in motion a series of steep increases to residents' water and wastewater rates. Now, in addition, the PD reports that "the financial ripples have led the city to freeze two vacant Utility and Public Works positions and defer infrastructure maintenance to limit any wider hit to city expenses." This will likely mean "delayed maintenance on water fountains, distribution pipes and pumps" for at least the next year. Electricity use has been lower, too, the PD reports — so city officials want to dip into the general fund to pay for some of the stuff usually covered by the water and electric funds. They're also hoping that "two more waves of property tax due to the city this year" and increased tax revenue from tourism can help "put the budget in alignment." The city's big budget talks will continue at the next council meeting on June 5, if you're into that kind of thing! (Press Democrat; paywall)

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Healdsburg pics of the day, spring fairy edition:

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Coming up in Healdsburg:

Tuesday, May 23

• Healdsburg Farmers Market in the Plaza (9AM-12:30PM)
• Food Distribution at the Healdsburg Community Center (Weekly, 9:30-10:30AM)
• Healdsburg City Planning Commission Hosts Public Hearing on New Hotel Proposed Downtown (6-8PM)
• Healdsburg Running Company "Trail Sisters" Host Run, Swim & BBQ at Lake Sonoma (6PM)
• Glitterfox Live at the Elephant in the Room (7-10PM)

Wednesday, May 24

• Food Distribution at Healdsburg City Hall (4-5PM)
• Healdsburg City Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Hosts Regular Meeting (4PM)
• "Crafting with CreativeBug" at the Healdsburg Library: Paper Marbling Workshop (6PM)
• Trivia Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-9PM)

Thursday, May 25

• Minimum Day at Healdsburg Schools (All Day)
• Artist Talk at the Upstairs Art Gallery Inside Levin & Company: "Healdsburg by Design: Fragments in Time" by Photographer Richard Hay Jr. (4-6PM)
• Oakville Grocery & Wine Merchant Host Pre-Parade Happy Hour (4-6PM)
• "The Great Raven Reveal": Raven Theater Announces 2023-24 Season at Free Event, Featuring Food, Drinks, Entertainment, Games, Prizes & Deals (5:30PM)
• Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair Hosts Twilight Parade (6-8PM)
• Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair Kickoff at Rec Park (6-10:30PM)
• Multi-Instrumentalist Female Producer Salami Rose Joe Louis Performs at Little Saint (7-9PM)
• Karaoke Night at Coyote Sonoma (Weekly, 7-10PM)

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From my notebook:

• City crews just finished fixing up that parking lot next to the old Wild Flowers Saloon on Healdsburg Avenue, where we're getting a new Jewish deli soon. The improvements included "localized pavement repairs, pavement resurfacing, new signage and new striping," the city says. (City of Healdsburg via Facebook)
• The same guy behind Duke's on the plaza reportedly just helped open a tiki bar down in Petaluma — and it's getting some serious shade from the Eater food blog for "dancing between appropriation and appreciation" and "turning Native Hawaiians’ ancient code of conduct on its head." (Eater SF)
• After another pile burn ballooned into to a quarter-acre vegetation fire in Forestville, local fire officials ask that you "make sure you know the requirements needed to conduct a safe landscape debris burn." Click through to learn more. (CAL FIRE & CAL FIRE Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit via Facebook)
• Math students at Healdsburg Junior High have reportedly been staging Barbie bungee-jumping simulations "to help figure out how many rubber bands Barbie can safely drop from 100 feet." And there are pics. (Healdsburg Junior High School via Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be back soon with more...

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Healdsburg Patch newsletter? Contact me at simone.wilson@patch.com