The riggers Loft, the rehabilitation of which Nat Bates and Corky Booze did everything in their power to stop, will figure prominantly in Richmond’s Veterans Day recognition next month.

Riggers Loft, an assembly plant during WWII, will soon house a winery. (Photo courtesy of Alten Construction)
Plan for winery at Riggers Loft has important connection to upcoming Veteran’s Day event
October 17, 2014 by Mike Aldax
In a Veteran’s Day ceremony on Nov. 11 connecting the Richmond waterfront’s proud past and bright future, the SS Red Oak Victory’s 70th anniversary will be celebrated in Riggers Loft, a historic building once used for assembling ship parts that will soon house a winery.
During last year’s annual Veteran’s Day celebration, Riggers Loft, located next to the Red Oak Victory on the former Kaiser shipyard, was dedicated following its renovation.
Alameda-based winery R & B Cellars hopes to begin operating in a portion of the building with more than a dozen employees early next year, said Councilmember Tom Butt, who secured the council votes to direct a state grant for the renovation of the building.
In late October, City Council is set to decide upon an agreement in which Chinese investors would put up $2 million to “get the site up and running,” Butt reported in his e-forum.
The future of Riggers Loft is just one reason to celebrate there on Veteran’s Day.  Starting at 10:30 a.m., the community is encouraged to attend a Grand Re-Launch of the Red Oak Victory, which was launched at the Kaiser Richmond shipyards during WWII.
A former crew member of the ship will attend the relaunch. On that day, free tours of the Red Oak Victory will be offered throughout the day, along with a USO style dance in Riggers Loft.
A 1945-style boxed lunch will be offered at $7.
The event is sponsored by the Richmond Museum of History, Chevron Richmond and the City of Richmond.
For more information, call the Richmond Museum of History at 510-235-7387 or the SS Red Oak Victory Ship at 510-237-2933.”

Richmond Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park