From wine runs to trail races, the small store has forged a wide footprint in the local running community, where it acts as a social hub for newbies and veterans alike.

From wine runs to trail races, the small store has forged a wide footprint in the local running community, where it acts as a social hub for newbies and veterans alike.

Originally built in the 1960ʻs, CraftWork was built as Healdsburg’s location for Crocker Bank.  There were untold stories – and transactions – conducted in that space as it evolved, got bought by Wells Fargo and eventually moved to a freestanding building in the Vineyard Plaza shopping center.  Over the next few decades it took on a range of uses from second hand goods to furniture store.

One of the first big ʻthingsʻ to result from its publication was an invitation to present at TEDxSonoma County.  I had been a fan of TED for years and the chance to be part of this esteemed franchise, and maybe gain a little of the halo that comes from being on the TEDx stage, made the four grueling years writing the book feel like it was worthwhile.

The Cerri family built the warehouse in the early 1920s as a grape and fruit distribution facility, next to the train tracks running along the property’s west side. They didn’t thrive and sold the building in bankruptcy five or six years later. Other fruit packing and canning businesses took over the structure, including Rosenberg Brothers and Del Monte, before Purity Chemical Products became the final commercial owner with its line of agricultural products.

Ever since the American Institute of Architects (AIA) came to Healdsburg, the town has turned increasingly self-reflective, attentive to its brand in a way that goes beyond just tourism.

It’s now not just a wine destination but a design destination, where city planners, architects, sustainability evangelists and lifestyle gurus gather to contemplate how to build through the next decades while maintaining Healdsburg’s unique attractions. 

Situated in downtown Healdsburg, CraftWork has served as a shared workspace, office space and gathering space for local professionals since early 2020. The space features a lobby (complete with a fireplace and cozy seating), a large open space with flexible and dedicated desks/seating, two meeting/conference rooms, two phone booths and a handful of private offices. 

Post pandemic, working from home isn’t just for entrepreneurs anymore. With every type of professional, from government employees and sales professionals to high level managers and “almost retired, but not quite yet” retirees, working a few consulting hours, there has been a continued growing demand for more and better spaces to work from in Sonoma County. 

In a small town, the best way to pave the way for sustained happiness is to bolster the organizations that make local culture what it is. This is what makes Healdsburg Forever so special. Since its inception in 2003 the nonprofit has granted more than $1.7 million to local organizations and has helped more than 70 nonprofits around Sonoma County.