SITE HISTORY

This area was once an important center for commercial bulb production, with local growers cultivating callas, narcissus, freesias, begonias, tulips, and more.

Robert Lincoln established Los Robles Nursery and was celebrated in local newspapers as one of the first to pioneer Dutch bulb production in this part of the country. As a nod to that connection, he built the bulb store in the shape of a Dutch windmill.

The building later became home to Buckhart’s Candies. Founded in Watsonville in 1903, the candy company eventually moved to downtown Santa Cruz. By 1936, Buckhart’s was operating out of Lincoln’s Windmill building, where the business flourished.

At one point, Buckhart’s offered 70 different kinds of candies, becoming especially known for hand-dipped chocolates, fudge, and toffee.

Buckhart’s closed in 2002, and the building later housed a bicycle shop. Today, it’s home to Windmill Cafe.

According to a Lookout article, there is pending development on the property. We will keep an eye on this!