Mendocino Massage

A weathered little redwood building on Albion Street now serves as a quiet day spa in the heart of Mendocino village.

Overview

Mendocino Massage occupies the dark, low-roofed redwood building at 45100 Albion Street. Its worn wood siding, old-fashioned storefront windows, brick walkway and simple entrance give it the look of a building that has been part of Mendocino for considerably longer than its present business.

Today Mendocino Massage operates here as a day spa offering therapeutic massage, facials and other body treatments. Its official website continues to list 45100 Albion Street as its Mendocino location.

Location

The building stands at 45100 Albion Street in the center of Mendocino village, only a short distance from Main Street and the Mendocino Headlands.

Unlike some of the larger Victorian buildings nearby, this one is modest and low to the ground. The weathered redwood exterior and compact storefront give it the feeling of an older working village building rather than a modern commercial structure. That simplicity is part of its character.

History

The present-day story is clear. Mendocino Massage operates at 45100 Albion Street and describes itself as a professional therapeutic massage and facial business in historic Mendocino. The business offers a range of massage and spa treatments, and Mendocino County tourism information also identifies it as a day spa in the heart of the village.

The earlier history of the building remains an open part of the story. Its weathered redwood construction and traditional storefront appearance clearly fit the historic character of Mendocino, but no reliable published source has yet been found that identifies its original builder, construction date or earliest use.

That leaves plenty of room for the next piece of the history to surface. Old photographs, Mendocino business directories, property records, Kelley House Museum files or community memories may eventually help identify what occupied this little Albion Street building before it became Mendocino Massage.

The Building Today

Mendocino Massage continues to list 45100 Albion Street as its address and offers therapeutic massage, facials and spa treatments from this village location. Its current website lists daily appointments and describes the business as a place for relaxation and therapeutic bodywork.

Visit Mendocino County also lists the business at the same address and describes services including massage therapy, reflexology, stone treatments and combined body and facial treatments.

Why It Matters

It is an especially fitting modern use for such a quiet little building. Where an earlier Mendocino business or residence may once have occupied these rooms, today people walk through the door looking for an hour of peace and leave a little more relaxed than when they arrived.

The building may be small, but like so many places in Mendocino, there is probably more history hiding behind the old redwood boards than first meets the eye.

Sources & Original Research: This article blends verifiable published information with the original Buildings and Businesses in Mendocino post. Sources include the official Mendocino Massage website and current contact information, which list the business at 45100 Albion Street and describe its massage and facial services; and Visit Mendocino/Mendocino County Tourism Commission information identifying Mendocino Massage as a day spa in Mendocino village. Original post text and photograph provided by Gee Bee. The earlier history of the building remains open for additional photographs, directories, property records, Kelley House Museum research and community memories.