New developments in north Windsor slated to provide shops, services

Shopping center, mortuary provide new services to north
part of town
by NATHAN WRIGHT, Staff Writer
Jeff Knott would like to make a quick trip to the grocery store
a reality for residents of north Windsor.
Jeff and his wife Sue will open Bonaventure Plaza in March, a
neighborhood shopping center that will provide a market, coffee
shop, pizzeria, and a laundromat.
“We wanted to provide the (residents) on the north side with
services they typically have to travel a fair distance to receive,”
said Jeff Knott. “We felt that there really wasn’t anything on the
north end of town.”
Bonaventure Plaza, named after Jeff’s grandfather, is located on
Old Redwood Highway, just south of Arata Lane. The north end of
town is also the home of the Romano Windsor Mortuary, which opened
earlier this month.
Windsor Mayor Debora Fudge said that Bonaventure Plaza didn’t
require town council review, but she has driven by it many times.
“I think it looks nice,” she said. “Generally, I encourage
neighborhood centers, so people can walk to stores and services
rather than having to drive to a major shopping center.” According
to Town of Windsor Planning Director Peter Chamberlin, Bonaventure
Plaza is designated a neighborhood center.
Bonaventure’s neighborhood market will be called Martin’s, and
will include a meat department, a produce department, a bakery, and
Mexican specialty foods. The center will also be home to NorthTown
Coffee Shop, Nonna’s Pizzeria, and a coin laundromat. Knott said
that his family is also in negotiations with a video store.
The Knotts, who live just off of Arata Lane, are longtime
Windsor residents. In 1998, Jeff’s parents sold their business
interest in Kenwood Vineyards. Bonaventure Plaza is being funded by
that sale.
When the Knotts purchased the Old Redwood property in 2002, it
was nothing more than a small house on an acre of property. “At the
time we weren’t sure what we going to put on it,” said Knott. “We
worked with the town to come up with a plan.” Almost two years
later, the property has been transformed from a small house to two
large buildings with a parking lot located between them. The vision
will become complete in March when the center opens for
business.
Bonaventure Plaza still has spaces available for lease.
The new mortuary, located farther south on Old Redwood Highway,
is also owned by a local family. “We’re family owned and operated,”
said Carmine Romano. “Now (locals) don’t need to travel 25 miles”
to Santa Rosa or Cloverdale to work with a mortuary.
The Romano Windsor Mortuary (license #FD-1805) is a full service
mortuary, providing traditional funerals in any church of any
denomination, as well as cremations. They can also transfer the
deceased to any location in the United States, or the world.