Now that’s what we call a drive-through...
In case you missed it...
At 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday night of August, someone drove 50 miles per hour directly through the front of the Bodega Country Store. It could go without saying, but as a reminder, please slow down and drive safely through small towns. Bodega Highway is not just a FastTrack to the beach, it’s a county road that supports a large amount of pedestrian traffic. Be aware of how much is at stake when you speed through Bodega. Luckily nobody was hurt or worse that night, but now the community is hurting.
Owner-operator Ariel Coddington has been as dedicated as they come over the last few years. I’ve had the privilege of calling her a close friend and our children have grown close. As well as the irreplaceable work she does for the community, she has an increasing family to support. That’s right, she’s expecting another baby! They need our help now more than ever to get our store back on its beams.
The first goal is to temporarily secure the building with steel adjustable beams to keep it safe during construction. This must be done before removing damaged items and broken materials. Concrete poles will be installed between the store entry and front parking to prevent future incidents like this one. They will help protect the building but could cause more injury to a vehicle or driver, so please abide by speed limits and keep eyes on the road. Rebuilding could take six to 12 months.
Local alternatives for convenient groceries:
Bill’s Farm Basket, on Bodega Highway between Grandview and Sexton Roads, is open daily 7:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. Saturday/Sunday) until 7 p.m. It is a stocked grocery store with many healthy options to bring home or fun treats for your day going to Bodega Bay. They also have plants, flowers and a cafe in the same parking lot.
Shop for a great variety of local cheeses and accompanying snacks at Freestone Artisan Cheese. While you're in the neighborhood, check out a new small family's garden stand in Freestone right on Bohemian Highway. Of course there’s also Wild Flour Bread and the impressive Worker Bee Farm, across Bodega Highway.
For locals, especially those who may not go to Bodega Bay often, we can’t forget our nearby relatives of Valley Ford. If going to the Sonoma Coast from Petaluma, the Valley Ford Market is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Easy to remember!) Valley Ford Cheese and Creamery also has many grab-n-go picnic options.
"Please, support our neighbors," says Coddington. All neighboring businesses in the humble town of Bodega are negatively impacted by this tragic event. Make use of increased parking and explore more shops within Bodega. There's more than meets most eyes, especially if you slow down and stop to see.
Please share and visit online at https://gofund.me/dec2e15a for donations, some interesting history of the store and important updates. On Facebook, you can follow at https://www.facebook.com/thebodegacountrystore/
You can also donate by sending a check to:
Ariel Coddington
PO Box 6
Bodega, CA 94922
