Nello's Market & Deli

Overview

Nello's Market & Deli at 860 N. Main Street is one of Fort Bragg's longtime neighborhood markets, with roots dating to approximately 1950.

Established by Nello Del Carlo and his family, the store became a convenient stop for nearby residents, workers, and travelers along Highway 1.

Through changes in ownership, Nello's has retained its familiar name and neighborhood character, offering groceries, sandwiches, drinks, and everyday necessities.

Location

860 N. Main Street sits along Highway 1 on Fort Bragg's north side, near Stewart Street and the former Noyo Bowl.

The location made Nello's accessible to surrounding residential neighborhoods and highway travelers. Its proximity to the bowling alley also placed it within a small commercial and social gathering area.

Longtime residents remember when children regularly walked or bicycled to the market and logging trucks traveled through this section of town.

History

The Del Carlo Family

Nello's Market was established around 1950 by Nello Del Carlo.

According to his granddaughter, Nello built the store by hand and operated it with his wife, Angela, and their oldest son, Ken.

The family lived in the attached house, making the property both a business and a family residence.

By the mid-1950s, Nello's was already an established neighborhood grocery, and its original name would survive decades of ownership changes.

The Heitmeyer Years

Community recollections indicate that the Del Carlo family sold the market to Hank and Mary Heitmeyer around 1963, although the exact date remains uncertain.

The Heitmeyers became familiar figures in the neighborhood, particularly among families who regularly visited the store and nearby bowling alley.

For longtime residents, this period is remembered for the friendly relationship between the market's owners and their customers.

Jim Britt and Later Years

Jim Britt became associated with Nello's during a later period, although the dates and nature of his involvement have not been established.

One resident remembered meeting him in the store's back room to discuss advertising on KMFB radio. Others recalled his friendly personality and regular visits to a local cafe for an early supper.

His family was also remembered in connection with a motel across the street, reportedly operated by his parents.

Nello's Market & Deli Today

Nello's continues serving customers at 860 N. Main Street as a neighborhood market and deli.

The business offers sandwiches, beverages, groceries, snacks, and convenience items, maintaining the practical role it has filled for generations.

A 2019 regional visitor publication described Nello's as serving the community since 1950 and referred to it as "The Friendly Little Store."

Community Memories

For children growing up on Fort Bragg's north side, Nello's was often the neighborhood grocery within walking or bicycling distance.

One resident remembered walking from Stewart Street to the store, while another recalled buying Hostess Sno Balls and Chocodiles during the 1970s and 1980s.

A longtime resident who arrived in Fort Bragg during the mid-1950s remembered logging trucks stopping to let children on bicycles cross Highway 1, a reminder of the town's earlier pace of life.

The market also holds memories of friendships between the Heitmeyer family and neighboring residents, including customers who regularly visited both Nello's and the bowling alley.

Another former resident recalled returning to Fort Bragg and stopping at Nello's for coffee every morning, finding that the familiar store still held a special place in their memories.

Why It Matters

Nello's Market & Deli represents the enduring neighborhood businesses that helped shape everyday life in Fort Bragg.

Its history began with Nello Del Carlo building a family-operated grocery beside his home and continued through the Heitmeyer years and later operators.

For generations, the market has been a familiar stop for groceries, childhood treats, coffee, and conversation.

More than seven decades after its beginnings, Nello's remains a recognizable North Main Street landmark, preserving the name and neighborhood identity established by its founding family.

Timeline

No separate timeline is documented in the existing text.

For more local history, photographs, and archived articles, explore the complete Fort Bragg History collection.

See the full archive: www.infortbragg.com