MCRPD Studios

Overview

The building at 579 S. Franklin Street has served several very different purposes over the years.

Older residents remember it as the Schwinn bicycle shop. It later housed Apria Healthcare, providing home medical equipment, and today it is MCRPD Studios, operated by the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District.

Through each change, the building has remained a practical neighborhood commercial space serving everyday community needs.

Location

MCRPD Studios is located at 579 S. Franklin Street on the southern end of Fort Bragg’s Franklin Street commercial corridor.

The building has the straightforward appearance of a property designed to adapt easily to changing uses, with street-facing windows and enough interior space for retail, equipment, and now group classes and activities.

History

Fort Bragg Cyclery

One of the earlier businesses documented at 579 S. Franklin Street was Fort Bragg Cyclery.

Community memories identify it strongly as the old Schwinn shop, remembered as a busy place where local families bought bicycles, had them repaired, and looked over bikes and equipment.

Business listings place Fort Bragg Cyclery at this address before the business later operated on North Main Street.

Apria Healthcare

The building later housed Apria Healthcare, a supplier of durable home medical equipment.

Healthcare directories list Apria at 579 S. Franklin Street, where residents could obtain equipment used for medical care, mobility, breathing support, recovery, and independent living at home.

Although very different from the bicycle shop that preceded it, Apria continued the building’s role as a practical service location for Mendocino Coast residents.

MCRPD Studios

Today the building is home to MCRPD Studios, operated by the Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District.

The Franklin Street studio provides space for recreation and fitness programs outside the district’s larger facilities.

Programs have included Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing, Zumba, strength and conditioning, dance, youth programs, and other fitness and movement classes.

The storefront windows now advertise classes and activities, while the interior has become a flexible studio for exercise, instruction, martial arts, dance, and community programs.

Community Memories

Longtime residents quickly recognized the building as the old Schwinn shop.

One remembered simply, “Oh yeah! The old Schwinn shop.”

Another recalled that her son spent a great deal of time there and remembered it as a busy place.

Those recollections show how strongly the bicycle shop remains associated with the building for local families who knew it during its Schwinn years.

Timeline

Earlier years — Building used as a South Franklin commercial property.

Fort Bragg Cyclery / Schwinn shop — Bicycle sales, repairs, equipment, and related services operated from 579 S. Franklin Street before the cyclery later moved to North Main Street.

Later years — Apria Healthcare operated from the building as a home medical equipment supplier.

Today — Mendocino Coast Recreation and Park District operates MCRPD Studios at the address, offering martial arts, fitness, dance, youth programs, and other community activities.