A Healdsburg restaurant faces tough months ahead after a morning crash

A quiet Saturday morning in Healdsburg took a sharp turn when an SUV plowed into Baci Cafe & Wine Bar, turning a 16-year-old restaurant into a scene of shattered glass and overturned furniture. The crash happened around 7:50 a. m. , leaving behind a mess that will take six to eight weeks just to clean up and repair. The driver, a 36-year-old visitor from New York, lost control after spilling coffee inside his own car. Surprisingly, no alcohol was involved, and no charges were filed—not even a night in jail. The owner, Lisbeth Holmefjord, got the news through a voicemail from police, who initially thought it might be a break-in. She admits she never expected those words to mean her place had just been hit by a runaway vehicle. The relief came from knowing no one was inside, but the bigger worry is what happens to her 22 staff members now stuck without pay while the doors stay closed. A GoFundMe page popped up to help cover their lost wages, with supporters calling Baci more than just a business—a real family that’s been a Healdsburg staple.Right now, Holmefjord is tangled in insurance paperwork and waiting on construction teams to assess the damage. Community messages have poured in, some offering cash donations, others sharing encouragement. But the cracks in California’s restaurant scene run deeper here—the sudden loss of income hits long-time employees hardest, many who joined years ago and helped shape the place into what it is today. What stands out isn’t just the crash itself but how quickly support networks rally in small towns. Still, one hard truth lingers: recovery takes time, money, and a lot of patience. For now, the restaurant’s future hangs in the balance, waiting on repairs no one saw coming.