Sew ’n Sew

Overview

The long building at 890 N. Franklin Street is one of those Fort Bragg properties that has survived by remaining useful.

Its history includes pea packing, railroad freight, the Co-Op feed store, Fort Bragg Feed and Pet, food production, the Food Bank, a movie appearance and today’s mix of small-business and creative uses.

Sew ’n Sew is now one of the building’s best-known public-facing businesses.

Location

The building stands at 890 N. Franklin Street on the north side of Fort Bragg.

Its long footprint, loading doors and warehouse layout reflect the older railroad-and-industrial character of this part of town.

Railroad tracks once ran behind buildings along this stretch of Franklin Street, allowing freight to be loaded and unloaded through raised doors at the rear.

History

Local history connects the building with Fort Bragg’s pea-packing era.

The Kelley House Museum has documented that the Fort Bragg pea packing house later became the Co-Op Feed warehouse.

That history fits the building’s form. Its long work spaces, loading areas and rail access were designed for moving and storing goods rather than for traditional storefront retail.

For many local families, the building is best remembered as the Co-Op feed store.

People came here for hay, chicken feed, rabbit food and other animal supplies. Some still remember the smell of the feed, the inside of the building and workers loading hay into cars and trucks.

Another remembered name is Fort Bragg Feed and Pet.

The building later became part of Fort Bragg movie history.

During filming of Overboard, the Franklin Street feed store was used as the fertilizer-plant location where Kurt Russell’s character worked.

Other uses followed.

Community memories place the Fort Bragg Food Bank in the north end of the building during the 1980s.

Food-production businesses also operated here. In the 1990s, Laurie Ackerman is remembered baking Bundt cakes in the building, and a commercial kitchen later provided space for local producers making items such as pepper jelly and mustard.

Today Sew ’n Sew occupies part of the property.

The fabric shop is known for fabrics, sewing supplies, alterations and friendly service. Longtime residents also remember Sew ’n Sew operating at earlier Fort Bragg locations before moving here.

The larger building continues to accommodate multiple commercial and creative uses.

Recent work has included a new roof, repainting and other improvements that freshened the appearance while preserving its unmistakable warehouse character.

Community Memories

The Co-Op years produced some of the strongest memories connected with the building.

People remember buying chicken and rabbit feed, loading hay, seeing live chicks and rabbits and remembering the distinctive smell of the feed store.

Several residents also remember family members working for or driving for the Co-Op.

Others remember the building’s later uses, including the Food Bank, food-production businesses and the commercial kitchen.

The Overboard connection remains one of the more unusual memories, with the building remembered as the movie’s fertilizer-plant location.

Sew ’n Sew has created another layer of memories, especially among people who value having a local fabric store and remember its earlier Fort Bragg locations.

Timeline

Early years — The building is associated with Fort Bragg’s pea-packing industry and railroad freight activity.

Later — The pea packing house became the Co-Op Feed warehouse.

Co-Op era — Local families bought hay, animal feed and other supplies here.

Later years — The property was also associated with Fort Bragg Feed and Pet.

1980s — Community memories place the Fort Bragg Food Bank in the north end of the building.

1987 — The building was used as the fertilizer-plant location in the movie Overboard.

1990s — Laurie Ackerman is remembered baking Bundt cakes in the building.

Later years — A commercial kitchen provided space for local food producers.

Recent years — The building received a new roof, repainting and other improvements.

Today — Sew ’n Sew and other small-business and creative uses continue the building’s long tradition of practical reuse.

Why It Matters

This building matters because it connects several very different chapters of Fort Bragg history in one place.

It began as part of the town’s agricultural and railroad economy, later became a familiar Co-Op feed store, appeared in Overboard, housed the Food Bank and food-production businesses, and today continues serving small businesses and creative uses.

Its story is not about one famous business or one dramatic event.

It is about a sturdy working building that kept adapting as Fort Bragg changed around it.

That ability to stay useful is what gives 890 N. Franklin Street its importance.