Cheese Factory for sale; Amazon coming to 8th St. E.

The Sonoma Cheese Factory on Sonoma Plaza is for sale. Cushman & Wakefield just listed the empty building for $4.27 million, to include “unparalleled visibility and frontage at this national tourist destination.” Listing agents Don LeBuhn and Dan Wald said the property — long vacant — should appeal to investors “interested in its repositioning into a vibrant retail and commercial destination.” The current owners had for years endeavored to create a multi-vendor marketplace within the building. But there was legal confusion over an old (and perhaps expired) use permit, and a subsequent appeal that halted any remodel. Like a chef deciding to add peppers to his cheese recipe, any new owner may have to start the process from scratch… In Glen Ellen, restaurants Star and girl and the fig are offering curbside service. The nearby Garden Court Cafe, meanwhile, is not only closed, it’s gone. As in, torn down. Half of the building at Arnold and Warm Springs was removed by bulldozer; a major revamp of the site is underway. Talk about a to-go order.

Amazon has delivered some good economic news. In its first foray into Sonoma County, the behemoth has inked a deal for the 250k-square-foot Victory Station warehouse space on Eighth Street, near Schellville. The facility has been vacant since its 2018 completion. Amazon will reportedly spend $15 million to ready the delivery hub for opening later this year. 

The only thing worse than being a sports fan deprived of live TV is, apparently, being married to one. “He’s addicted to YouTube now. The other day I heard him yelling at an umpire from a game 30 years ago.” 

— Val Robichaud, [email protected]