Ag/Growing Supplies

FIRST Place: Northern Star Mills
510 Esplanade, 342-7661
Since 1898, Chicoans have trusted Northern Star Mills with their farming needs. The store—operating at its location across from Bidwell Mansion since 1933—stocks everything from pet and livestock feed and supplies to fertilizer, soil and seeds for the garden, yard and farm.
SECOND Place: Tractor Supply Co.
2475 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy,
897-0669
THIRD Place: C Bar D Feed
3388 Hwy 32, Ste. C, 342-5361

Antiques Store

FIRST Place: Eighth & Main Antique Center
745 Main St., 893-5534
Across two buildings, this treasure hunter’s paradise spans 29,000 square feet, housing vendors selling everything from antiques and collectibles to vintage clothing and vinyl records.
SECOND Place: Little Red Hen Vintage
215 Main St., 894-1311
THIRD Place: Country Squyres Antiques
164 E. Third St., 342-6764

Appliance Store

FIRST Place: Ginno’s Kitchen & Appliance Center
2505 Zanella Way, 342-2182
Family-owned and -operated for more 50 years., Ginno’s is Chico’s largest independent appliance dealer. The friendly and knowledgeable staff helps customers navigate a wide selection of styles from leading manufacturers and also visits homes for installations and trusted repairs.

SECOND Place: Hudson’s Appliance Center
587 Country Drive, 292-6970

THIRD Place: Collier Hardware
105 Broadway, 342-0195

Attorney

FIRST Place: Rooney Law Firm
1458 Esplanade, 345-5678
Michael Rooney has a lot of experience with the justice system, but his practice isn’t limited to criminal defense—Chicoans also trust him with cases in other areas, such as personal injury and family law.

SECOND Place: The Law Office of Nikki Farris
2607 Forest Ave., Ste. 120, 898-1488

THIRD Place: Law Offices of Aaron J. Stewart
2571 California Park Drive, Ste. 100, 345-2212

Auto Paint/Body Shop

FIRST Place: Knockout Collision Repair
3225 Esplanade, (530) 899-9202
Knockout Collision Repair owner Kareem Abouzeid has been working with cars nearly his whole life, starting with sweeping floors in a local repair shop as a teen, today he and his staff of body repair experts make Chico’s cars look as good as new.

SECOND Place: Concours Elite Collision Center
2267 Esplanade, Ste. D, 891-0234

THIRD Place: JP’s Paint & Body Works
1840 Park Ave., 342-1328

Auto Repair Shop

FIRST Place: Affordable Automotive
2106 Park Ave., 892-1774; 906 Nord Ave., 343-8500
Affordable Automotive can handle any repair, from preventive maintenance to transmission work to diagnosing and fixing those mystery rattles we all know too well. With the shop’s guarantee and warranty promise, Butte County residents know they’re getting service they can trust at two locations of this locally owned shop.

SECOND Place: Spencer Automotive
2540 Dominic Drive, 345-5600

THIRD Place: Superior Auto Clinic
2862 Esplanade, 924-4195

Knockout Collission Repair

Baby/Kids’ Clothier

FIRST Place: Once Upon a Child
801 East Ave., Ste. 106, 592-3824
Once Upon a Child boasts being North America’s
No. 1 children’s resale franchise. The Chico store reduces wast by selling “gently used kid’s clothes, shoes, toys, furniture and baby gear.”

SECOND Place: Apple Blossom Baby
1356 Longfellow Ave., 345-1617

THIRD Place: Kat’s Meow
138 W. Third St., 899-8811

Bank/Credit Union

FIRST Place: Tri Counties Bank
Multiple locations
The first branch of Tri Counties Bank opened in Chico on March 11, 1975, at the current 2171 Pillsbury Road location. There are now branches all over the state operated by more than 1,500 employees. Customers have come to know the bank by its core values of trust, respect, integrity, communication and opportunity, or TRICO.

SECOND Place: Members 1st Credit Union
Two locations: 969 East Ave. & 550 Salem St., 222-6060

THIRD Place: Golden Valley Bank
190 Cohasset Road, Ste. 170, 894-1000

Barbershop

FIRST Place: Liberty Barber Co.
240 Main St., Ste. 180, 630-7313
This is three years in a row for the warm and welcoming Liberty Barber Co. A traditional shop offering cuts, beard trims and hot-towel straight-razor shaves, Liberty also features a complimentary beverage and a shoulder massage with each visit.

SECOND Place (tie): Chico’s Barbershop
162 E. Third St., 487-7373

SECOND Place (tie): Danny’s Barbershop
544 Broadway St., 332-0553

Bike Shop

FIRST Place: Pullins Cyclery
801 Main St., 342-1055
Pullins Cyclery is as synonymous with Chico as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It has been the locals’ shop since it opened in 1918, and since owners Steve and Katy O’Bryan took over in 1984 its taken home maybe every Best Bike Shop award the CN&R has given out

SECOND Place: Greenline Cycles
515 Main St., 894-7885

THIRD Place: North Rim Adventure Sports
178 E. Second St., 345-2453

Cab Company

FIRST Place: Taxi Dave
514-8770
It’s just Dave and his plain white cab, taxiing locals around town at night (8 p.m.-4 a.m.) every day except Sunday.

SECOND Place: G-Ride Pedi-Cab & Trolley
354-9885

THIRD Place (tie): Chico Yellow Cab
893-4444

THIRD Place (tie): Uber
uber.com

Cannabis Dispensary (within driving distance of Chico)

FIRST Place: Sweet Flower
1998 Alcott Ave., 809-1620
Chico finally has cannabis dispensaries that customers can walk into. Sweet Flower was the first to open in town, and quickly established itself as a clean and welcoming space where adults can learn about cannabis products that they can purchase and take home and enjoy right away.

SECOND Place: Embarc Cannabis Goods
185 Cohasset Road, 636-1420

THIRD Place: Organic Care of California
(916) 476-5702

Car Dealership

FIRST Place: Chico Nissan Hyundai
575 Manzanita Ave./2562 Cohasset Road, 891-1777/893-1777
This locally owned business started with the Nissan dealership in 1961 and added the Hyundai half in 1992. Many of the employees have been with the company for years, even decades, contributing to Chico Nissan Hyundai’s reputation for customer service.

SECOND Place: Chuck Patterson Toyota
200 East Ave., 895-1771

THIRD Place: Courtesy Automotive Center
2520 Cohasset Road, 345-9444

Car Wash

FIRST Place: Surf Thru Express Car Wash
Two locations: 2470 Forest Ave., 801-6479; 2573 Esplanade, 774-2363
The Surf Thru chain offers quick, full-service, water-saving washes, plus self-serve vacuums and a floor mat-washing station.

SECOND Place: Scrubbs Car Wash & Detail Center
1020 Skyway, 893-4885

THIRD Place: California Car Wash
150 Commercial Ave., 894-3017

Consignment/Second-Hand Threads

FIRST Place (tie): Labelz Upscale Consignment Boutique
974 Mangrove Ave., 345-1615
Owner Jamie Withrow took over Labelz Upscale Consignment Boutique in 2019 and has curated a stock of seasonal/current clothing and accessories.

FIRST Place (tie): Arc Thrift Store
2020 Park Ave., 343-3666
The huge Arc store is packed with a well-organized selection of second-hand items, especially clothing. Plus, all proceeds fund a good cause—services for developmentally disabled people.

THIRD Place: Bootleg
126 W. Second St., 895-1426

Best Cannabis Dispensary: Sweet Flower

Convenience Store

FIRST Place: PDQ Market and Deli
156 E. Eaton Road, Ste. A, 345-9966
PDQ Market covers all the essentials—beer, sodas, ice, gas, snacks—for folks on the north side of town.

SECOND Place: Sierra Market
1646 Park Ave., 342-4579

THIRD Place (tie): Ray’s Liquor
207 Walnut St., 343-3249

THIRD Place (tie): 7-Eleven
Multiple locations

Day Spa

FIRST Place: Angels Nails & Spa
965 Nord Ave., Ste. 100-A, 487-7322
See Best Place For A Mani/Pedi.

SECOND Place: SkyLab Nails & Spa
611 Walnut St., 518-6908

THIRD Place: Urban Medspa
3221 Cohasset Road, 891-8772

Dry Cleaner

FIRST Place: 3rd Generation Cleaners
1380 East Ave., Ste. 128, 899-0333
Full-service “wet cleaning” specialists, these cleaners also do alterations, pickup and delivery. One online reviewer sums up 3rd Generation’s appeal: “Quality cleaning and top notch alterations with pleasant personal service.”

SECOND Place: Flair Custom Cleaners
660 Mangrove Ave., 345-0522

THIRD Place: Chico Express Cleaners
Two locations: 641 Walnut St., 343-6013; 752 East Ave., 343-8844

Esthetician/Waxing Studio

FIRST Place: Angels Nails & Spa
965 Nord Ave., Ste. 100-A, 487-7322
See Best Place For A Mani/Pedi.

SECOND Place: Skincare by Christan Allison
dreamatology.myrandf.com/en-us/

THIRD Place: Silhouette Waxing Studio
1803 Mangrove Ave., Ste. D, 342-7131

Feed Store/Farm Supply

FIRST Place: Northern Star Mills
510 Esplanade, 342-7661
See Best Ag/Growing Supplies.

SECOND Place: C Bar D Feed
3388 Hwy 32, 342-5361

THIRD Place: Tractor Supply Co.
arkway, 897-0669

Financial Planner

FIRST Place: Miste and Steve Cliadakis
Altum Wealth Advisors, 1074 East Ave., Ste. T-1, 924-0110
With each having more than 20 years’ experience in the field, Miste and Steven Cliadakis and their team help clients achieve their individual financial goals—from retirement plans and investments to risk management and insurance—with “objective, unbiased” advice.

SECOND Place: Kim Huber
agement, 418 Broadway, 349-4738

THIRD Place: Renée Michel & Joe Sweeney
Sweeney & Michel, 196 Cohasset Road, Ste. 100, 487-1777

Florist

FIRST Place: Christian & Johnson
1098 E. First Ave., 891-1881
Christian & Johnson is one of the longest-running businesses in Chico—from its 1907 beginning as a nursery run by Annie Bidwell’s gardeners, to more than a century alongside Big Chico Creek before moving to its current location five years ago. Owner Melissa Heringer and her team have kept the name at the top of locals’ list of iconic businesses with their focus on quality flowers hand-selected from the San Francisco Flower Market.

SECOND Place: Flowers by Rachelle
2485 Notre Dame Blvd., Ste. 260, 345-2661

THIRD Place: Chico Florist
1600 Mangrove Ave., Ste. 145, 345-185

General Contractor

FIRST Place: Proframe Construction
11128 Midway, Ste. 3, 636-4574
Proframe has been building just about everything—custom homes, rebuilds, patio covers and more—since owner Ben Eckstrom opened for business in 2006.

SECOND Place: Birchard Construction
2414 Florida Lane, Durham, 864-5427

THIRD Place: Slater & Son General Contractor
3753 Morehead Ave., 893-3333

Gift Shop

FIRST Place: Hubbs & Co.
956 Mangrove Ave., 892-4940
Tucked away in the Mangrove Plaza shopping center, Hubbs & Co. houses one of the most eclectic collections of merchandise in Chico, everything from women’s fashion and home goods to an ever-changing selection of gift options—garden flags, stuffed animals, scented candles and much more.

SECOND Place: Little Red Hen
897 E. 20th St., Ste. B, 897-0100

THIRD Place: Made in Chico
127 W. Third St., 894-7009

Grocer

FIRST Place: S&S Organic Produce & Natural Foods
1924 Mangrove Ave., 343-4930
From one end to the other, there is a world of good stuff inside S&S Produce & Natural Foods, a one-time roadside produce stand that now offers on-site barbecue, a full-service butcher and natural supplements and body care products in addition to a grocery stocked with natural and specialty items and a beautiful selection of organic produce.

SECOND Place: Trader Joe’s
801 East Ave., Ste. 110, 343-9920

THIRD Place: Chico Natural Foods Co-Op
818 Main St., 891-1713

Hair Salon

FIRST Place: Da Capo Style House
1925 Market Place, 715-7183
De Capo Style House was one of the first businesses in Meriam Park when owner/stylist Danielle Dietz opened it 2019. The chic little salon has taken first place in this category in every Best of Chico contest since.

SECOND Place: The Hair Co.
1229 E. Ninth St., 894-2002

THIRD Place: HAIR.HAUS
136 W. Third St., 717-0819

House Cleaning Service

FIRST Place: C&A Cleaning
514-7738
Established in 2008, C&A Cleaning offers residential and office cleaning services (including window washing!) using “environmentally friendly products, equipment and systems.” A recent online reviewer sang their praises thusly: “I am a real estate agent. I had a house that was thrashed and it needed to get ready to go on the market. C&A came through and cleaned the entire place up. Fair price and hard working people.”

SECOND Place: Cleaned to Perfection
520-6465

THIRD Place: Deb’s Detailed Cleaning
570-3561

House Painter

FIRST Place: Hawkes Painting
521-5237
Besides his impeccable work on the homes of Chico, John Hawkes’ only calling cards are the signs he stakes in the yards of jobs he’s working on—with a paint-splattered bird in flight—and his Best of Chico wins for the past three years.

SECOND Place: Bestway Painters
343-0430

THIRD Place (tie): Joe Shaw Painting
891-5563

THIRD Place (tie): SM Painting
321-1592

Best Loan Officer: Tim Kemper

Insurance Agent

FIRST Place: Heritage Insurance Agency
290 Airpark Blvd., 894-3276
Heritage Insurance has operated as an independent agency for 45 years. Steve and Kelly Mora head a team of more than 15 people with expertise spanning agribusiness, commercial accounts, personal insurance, employee benefits and workers’ compensation.

SECOND Place: Brad Jacobson (Farmers)
25 Jan Court, Ste. 120, 891-7900

THIRD Place: Eddy Rodriguez (State Farm)
45 Jan Court, Ste. 165, 899-0100

Jeweler

FIRST Place: Kirk’s Jewelry
246 W. Third St., 891-0880
Owner/jeweler/metalsmith Kirk Bengtson has been operating his popular downtown shop for 50 years now. Kirk’s Jewelry is a fixture, acclaimed especially for custom-made engagement and wedding rings, and showing off all the dazzling jewelry designs in a museum-like showroom.

SECOND Place: Julianne’s
1925 Market Place, Ste. 120, 342-3117

THIRD Place: Olde Gold Estate Jewelry
225 Main St., Ste. O, 891-4610

Landscaper

FIRST Place: Blue Moon Landscape
521-6587
Judging by online reviews and the photo galleries of the work of Blue Moon Landscaping, the company is professional and detail-oriented, whether the work is a simple gate repair or a full yard redesign.

SECOND Place: Summit Landscaping
230-7156

THIRD Place (tie): Dawson Landscaping
343-0384

THIRD Place (tie): Hanson & Hanson Landscaping
343-9906

THIRD Place (tie): Vega Landscape & Irrigation
514-3972

Liquor Store

FIRST Place: Spike’s Bottle Shop
1270 E. First Ave., 893-8410
Spike’s Bottle Shop remains at top of the craft-beer scene in Chico, boasting close to 3,000 different brews to choose from. Owner Kevin Jaradah has also curated an impressive selection of whiskeys and keeps the shelves stocked with the latest new beverage trends and plenty of non-alcoholic options as well.

SECOND Place: Star Liquor
933 Nord Ave., 891-4842

THIRD Place: Mangrove Bottle Shop
1350 Mangrove Ave., Ste. 160, 342-7575

Loan Officer

FIRST Place: Tim Kemper
Guild Mortgage, 2463 Beacon St., 624-6964
Tim Kemper is one of many Chicoans who came to town for college (in 1979) and never left. After years in construction and as a financial advisor, he moved to the world of mortgages, focusing on purchasing, refinancing and reverse mortgages. On the side, he keeps the sounds of old, weird America (and Ireland) alive on “2-Penny Opera,” his long-running folk music show on KZFR.

SECOND Place: Tanya Quakenbush
Movement Mortgage, 901 Bruce Road, Ste. 150, 715-2213

THIRD Place (tie): Andy Taylor
CMG Home Loans, 10 Declaration Drive, Ste. A, 924-6478

THIRD Place (tie): Ashley Brooks
Brooks Lending Team/Fulcrum Home Loans, 1253 Mangrove Ave., 588-1344

Local Pet Supplies Store

FIRST Place: TrailBlazer Pet Supply
Three locations: 752 Mangrove Ave., 892-1848; 1352 East Ave., Ste. S, 774-2332; 2267 Springfield Drive, Ste. 110, 895-0092
Erik Gledhill opened TrailBlazer Pet Supply in 2009 with the goal “to offer pet owners, like himself, a place where they could get the help and resources they needed to care for their pets in healthy and holistic ways that encompassed both the emotional and nutritional support of a pet.” A third location is now open in Meriam Park.

SECOND Place: Northern Star Mills
510 Esplanade, 342-7661

THIRD Place: Chico Pet Works & Pet Salon
2201 Pillsbury Road, Ste. 186, 345-0934

Men’s Clothier

FIRST Place: Upper Park
122 W. Third St., 487-7118
This year marks one decade in business for Upper Park, the all-local purveyors of clothing—including a full complement of men’s basics—and provisions “that represent Chico and the surrounding California area.” Part of Upper Park’s mission is to support the community, which it does most directly with its “Giving Back” collection, featuring items for which a significant portion of proceeds is donated to local causes, such as preservation of Bidwell Park and the sports booster clubs of local high schools.

SECOND Place: Men’s Wearhouse
1950 E. 20th St., Ste. 501, 342-1769

THIRD Place: K Custom Clothier
126 W. Third St., 624-4195

Best Liquor Store: Spike’s Bottle Shop

Motorcycle Dealer

FIRST Place: Sierra Steel Harley-Davidson
1501 Mangrove Ave., 893-1918
The lot at Sierra Steel Harley-Davidson on Mangrove Avenue is the unofficial gathering spot for Chico’s motorcycling enthusiasts, and the attached shop is the official home of the king of American road bikes.

SECOND Place: Ozzie’s BMW Center
2438 Cohasset Road, 345-4462

THIRD Place: Northstate Powersports
11096 Midway, 342-4216

Moving Company

FIRST Place: Murdock’s Moving & Storage
2590 Hwy 32, 354-8089
Neacail Murdock started his moving company as a way to create a work schedule that would fit around his college classes. Now graduated, he uses the business management skills he attained to direct his popular moving, packing and storage company.

SECOND Place: Two Men and a Truck
3851 Morrow Lane, Ste. 592-0093

THIRD Place: Sorenson Moving & Storage
600 Orange St., 343-4253

New Business (non-food service)

FIRST Place: Covello Plumbing
55 Pauletah Place, 249-7749
After 16 years in the trades, Kyle Covello has put out his own shingle. Covello Plumbing is a full-service company that handles installation, diagnosis, repair and engineering for residential
and commercial customers.

SECOND Place: Coin-Op Game Room
229 Broadway, 809-2688

THIRD Place: Embarc Cannabis Goods
185 Cohasset Road, 636-1420

Nursery

FIRST Place: The Plant Barn and Gifts
406 Entler Ave., 345-3121
New owners, same love from Chico. Earlier this year, Courtney Paulson and Chris Hunter purchased the Plant Barn—which has been in operation since 1980—and they kept all the employees and left the place just as locals have grown to like it: a sprawling compound of vegetable starts; plants and trees of all types; and a wide range of garden art and other plant-related gifts and supplies. It’s not unlike their other local business, Magnolia Gift & Garden Center (see second place below).

SECOND Place: Magnolia Gift & Garden Center
1367 East Ave., 894-5410

THIRD Place: Little Red Hen Nursery
189 E. 8th St., 891-9100

Outdoor Living (patios, pergolas, pools, etc.)

FIRST Place: Patio Pros
11128 Midway, Ste. 3, 924-6400
The Patio Pros keep Chico in the shade, literally. Specializing in a variety of shade structures, as well as outdoors-integrated sun- and life-rooms, the local company has made a name for itself with its dependability and customer service.

SECOND Place: Hughes Ski Hut
13600 Hwy 99, 891-4032

THIRD Place (tie): At Home
1982 E. 20th St., 630-6469

THIRD Place (tie): Perfection Pools & Spas
172 E. 20th St., 895-0437

Pet Groomer

FIRST Place: Coature Pet Spa
1411 Mangrove Ave., 899-8433
Promising a “luxury experience for your dog,” Coature Pet Spa is a full-service salon that offers shampoo, nail trim, de-matting and more with its hair cuts. As one online reviewer shared: “James and his staff are the most caring and professional you could ever ask for!”

SECOND Place: TrailBlazer Pet Supply
Three locations: 752 Mangrove Ave., 892-1848; 1352 East Ave., Ste. S, 774-2332; 2267 Springfield Drive, Ste. 110, 855-0092

THIRD Place: Carol’s Dog Grooming
975 East Ave., Ste. 160, 343-1554

Piercing Studio

FIRST Place: Red Room Adorned
101 Salem St., Ste. 140, 399-3120
The piercing-only offshoot of Red Room Tattoo is making its mark on Chico’s pierceable body parts. Using implant-grade titanium and solid gold, the artists at Red Room Adorned offer the full range of piercings—for ears, septums, tongues, lips and more.

SECOND Place: Eye of Jade
1238 Mangrove Ave., 343-5233

THIRD Place: Pure Gold Studio
231 Nord Ave., 342-1287

Place For A Mani/Pedi

FIRST Place: Angels Nails & Spa
965 Nord Ave., Ste. 100-A, 487-7322
Open the door of the unassuming west Chico business on any given day, and inside the place will be packed with customers and nearly as many manicurists at work, offering everything from a regular mani to a milk honey with full set gel pedi—plus a full range of the usual salon services.

SECOND Place: SkyLab Nails & Spa
611 Walnut St., 518-6908

THIRD Place: Lily’s Nails & Spa
208 W. East Ave., Ste. E, 898-8765

Angels Nails & Spa

Place For Electronics/Computer Repair

FIRST Place: Chico Computer Clinic
1450 Mangrove Ave., Ste. 140, 636-1337
The “on-call nerds” of Chico Computer Clinic specialize in computer repair, cleaning and upgrade installation. The work is done fast, too, with average turnaround being less than 24 hours.

SECOND Place: Best Buy
2005 Forest Ave., 566-1012

THIRD Place: PCI Computer Services
225 Main St., 891-4152

Place To Buy Books

FIRST Place: The Bookstore
118 Main St., 345-7441
The Bookstore is comfort. It’s an escape. It’s a downtown home. It’s Chico. The overfilled shelves offer a wide selection of used and new books—with impressive selections of children’s books, cookbooks, history, gardening, religious, art books and classic literature—in which to lose oneself for hours.

SECOND Place: Barnes & Noble
2031 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, 894-1494

THIRD Place: ABC Books
950 Mangrove Ave., 893-4342

Place To Buy Home Furnishings

FIRST Place: Esplanade Furniture
1750 Esplanade, 891-4788
The formula at Esplanade Furniture is simple: American-made, solid-wood and top-grain leather furniture. Since 1982, the popular local shop has supplied Chico with its bedroom furniture, dining tables, cabinets and more.

SECOND Place: Finds Design & Decor
1341 Mangrove Ave., 892-1905

THIRD Place: HomeGoods
1962 E. 20th St., 893-8770

Place To Buy Outdoor Gear

FIRST Place: Mountain Sport
176 E. Third St., 345-5011
Mountain Sports is here to outfit local outdoor enthusiasts with clothing, footwear, equipment and accessories for whatever adventure awaits along the trails, from Bidwell Park to the Sierra-Cascade range.

SECOND Place: Chico Sports Ltd.
698 Mangrove Ave., 894-1110

THIRD Place: Sportsman’s Warehouse
765 East Ave., Ste. 170, 897-0500

Plumber

FIRST Place: Earl’s Performance Plumbing
2264 Park Ave., 343-0330
Earl’s Performance Plumbing techs arrive in fully stocked vans, answering calls 24/7 to fix everything from water and sewer lines to pumps and water heaters. For more than two decades, Earl’s has kept Chico’s pipes in order.

SECOND Place: Attaboy Plumbing
3028 Esplanade, Ste. G, 328-3907

THIRD Place: Able Plumbing
551 Country Drive, Ste. 150, 899-9009

Professional Photographer

FIRST Place: Erin Lackey Photography
370-3597
Erin Lackey specializes in family portraits, striving to “create timeless images of your family so you can relive these moments with joy and gratitude.” The local photographer also focuses on the emotional health of young girls in Butte County by hosting immersive “I’m Possible Tween Girl Empowerment” events.

SECOND Place: Ashley Carlascio
hello@ashleycarlascio.com

THIRD Place: Park Avenue Photography
521-4340

Property Management

FIRST Place: Madsen Properties
2607 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, 570-6192
Alicia Madsen is a licensed real estate broker whose Madsen Properties provides management services for owners of rentals in Chico, Paradise, Magalia and Oroville.

SECOND Place: Blue Oak Property Management
2889 Cohasset Road, Ste. 5, 636-2627

THIRD Place: The Hignell Companies
1750 Humboldt Road, 576-5376

Real Estate Agent

FIRST Place: Heather Cooper (Willow & Birch Realty)
121 W. Fourth Ave., 521-2606
Heather Cooper has been a local realtor for 13 years and has made a name for herself by focusing on customer service and a commitment to be “there for her clients every step of the way … [she] feels truly grateful to be able to help her clients make their dreams of home ownership a reality.”

SECOND Place: Sabrina Chevallier (RE/MAX)
1834 Mangrove Ave., 718-9115

THIRD Place: Brandi Laffins
1834 Mangrove Ave., 809-4594

Reptile Store

FIRST Place: Nor Cal Reptile Adventures
43 Dacy Ave., 228-5011
In addition to selling reptiles and reptile supplies, Nor Cal Reptile Adventures owners Kenni and David Huff also sell, well, adventures. Locals can hire them out to bring lizards, snakes and a gigantic turtle to birthday parties, school and other special events.

SECOND Place: Killer Clutches
44 Rock Creek Road, (310) 993-5459

THIRD Place: Chico Pet Works & Pet Salon
2201 Pillsbury Road, Ste. 186, 345-0934

TrailBlazer Pet Supply

Roofer

FIRST Place: Baird Roofing
11025 Midway, 342-1631
For 25 years, Michael Baird’s company has covered residential homes and commercial buildings, doing everything from attic ventilation and skylights to new roofs in a variety of materials.

SECOND Place: Powell Roofing
43 Norfield Ave., Ste. 4, 892-1410

THIRD Place: Butte Roofing Co.
8 Seville Court, Ste. 110, 342-6553

RV Rentals

FIRST Place: Happy Campers Chico
329 Southgate Ave., 321-8180
Like many RVers, Matt Dunckel and his family started their adventures in nature as tent campers. However, after experiencing the ease of execution in hitching up a camp trailer and just heading out, he started Happy Campers, offering hitch trailers of all sizes as well as small-scale motor homes for rent.

SECOND Place: Chico Offroad Rentals
2990 Esplanade, 965-5289

THIRD Place: Enterprise Rent-A-Car
2267 Esplanade, Ste. C, 899-1188

Shoe Store

FIRST Place: Heel & Sole Shoes
708 Mangrove Ave., 899-0725
Heel & Sole is packed to the ceiling, literally, with seemingly endless boxes of every style of footwear—funky boots, swanky high heels, easy-breezy flip-flops and classic canvas sneakers.

SECOND Place: Beck’s Shoes
801 East Ave., Ste. 145, 343-8923

THIRD Place: Birkenstock
333 Broadway, 345-4880

Solar Company

FIRST Place: Alternative Energy Systems
13620 Hwy 99 & 876 East Ave., 855-254-6754
This locally owned business brings the resources, materials and manpower of a national company to the projects for solar systems and battery storage that keep local residential and commercial properties in power.

SECOND Place: Ohm Solar Solutions
1300 Nord Ave., 433-4609

THIRD Place: Royal Aire Heating, Air Conditioning & Solar
2530 Zanella Way, 899-9999

Sporting Goods

FIRST Place: Chico Sports Ltd.
698 Mangrove Ave., 894-1110
Matt and Wendy Smith opened Chico’s sports superstore in 1985, growing it into a warehouse-sized selection of essentials for camping, hiking, cycling, backpacking, running, yoga, swimming, snowboarding, disc golf and more.

SECOND Place: Dick’s Sporting Goods
1922 E. 20th St., 343-3351

THIRD Place: Big 5 Sporting Goods
1717 Mangrove Ave., Ste. C, 891-1545

Tattoo Parlor

FIRST Place: Eye of Jade
1238 Mangrove Ave., 343-5233
There are so many Chico tattoo studios with talented artists that receive votes from loyal customers for Best of Chico. This year, it’s Eye of Jade, the shop opened by Ben Lucas that’s remained a local favorite for more than 16 years.

SECOND Place: Tanner Drake Tattoo Studio
250 Vallombrosa Ave., Ste. 560, 965-5842

THIRD Place: Red Room Tattoo
231 Nord Ave., 342-1287

Thrift Store

FIRST Place: Arc Thrift Store
2020 Park Ave., 343-3666
See Best Consignment/Second-Hand Threads.

SECOND Place: Thrifty Bargain
2432 Esplanade, 774-2158

THIRD Place: Goodwill
765 East Ave., Ste. 100, 893-8578

Tree Service

FIRST Place: Tree of Eden Tree Services
513-6574
Tree of Eden specializes in limbing, trimming, removals, fire-fuel breaks, lot clearing, general tree maintenance and even offers crane rentals.

SECOND Place: About Trees
343-4533

THIRD Place: North Valley Tree Service
893-9649

Video Production

FIRST Place: Metric Cosmetics
1355 E. Eaton Road, 521-1056
Metric Cosmetics will make any video you need—commercials, Kickstarters, music videos, even a re-launch campaign for a beloved locally brewed IPA.

SECOND Place: Spruce Studio
418 Broadway St., 604-6008

THIRD Place: U.T.B. Studios
415-932-9891

Wedding/Event Planner

FIRST Place: North State Events
801-1275
North State Events owner Ashley Smith’s mission is clear and inspiring: “Tell me what your vision is, and I’ll make it a reality,” she says. “I will take care of even the tiniest elements, so you can enjoy your event as much as your guests.”

SECOND Place: The 530 Bride
988-8344

THIRD Place: CES Weddings & Events
592-0728

Window Treatments

FIRST Place: Budget Blinds of Chico
2525 Dominic Drive, Ste. C, 343-3400
Local owners Tim and Kim Long pride themselves on detail-oriented customer service for all window-treatment consultations and installations.

SECOND Place: Allen Allen Shades
292-6940

THIRD Place: Nantucket Design & Home
603 Broadway St., 895-1038

Women’s Clothier

FIRST Place: Hubbs & Co.
956 Mangrove Ave., 892-4940
See Best Gift Shop.

SECOND Place: For Elyse
228 Broadway, 893-0106

THIRD Place: 5th Street Clothing Co.
328 Broadway St., 345-5754

Click here for more Best of Chico 2023.

The post Items & Companies • Chico Information & Evaluation appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

· Air Products and Chemicals Inc.’s chosen warehouse developer, Prologis Inc., will have to wait until July 13 for a final decision by Upper Macungie Township’s zoning hearing board on 2.61 million square feet of warehouses. 

· Chubby’s of Southside Easton has added Krispy Krunchy Chicken to its offerings and name.

· Curaleaf Holdings Inc., which operates in the U.S. and Europe, will open a medical-marijuana dispensary at 1801 Airport Road, Hanover Township.

· Habitat for Humanity, which has “ReStores” that sell new and lightly used furniture, has leased 30,000 square feet at the South Mall.

· Nat Hyman’s bid to convert an old warehouse at 938 Washington St. in Allentown into 48 apartments did not win zoning hearing board approval this week after neighbors said more housing would make an on-street parking shortage worse.

· Members 1st Federal Credit Union opened a new branch this week at 5605 Hamilton Blvd, Trexlertown. It’s one of five planned for the Lehigh Valley. 

· A Turkish restaurant has relocated from one downtown to another, taking its fresh ingredients and cozy atmosphere from Nazareth to 200 Main St., Tatamy.

· The Tennessee Titans have chosen Allentown-based Shift4 Payments to handle payments at Nissan Stadium.

· Wells Fargo Bank held ribbon-cutting at its downtown Allentown branch at 740 Hamilton St.

· The Wiz Kidz outlet at the Madison Farms residential/retail development in Bethlehem Township will hold a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting at noon on July 15.

· Bad Biscuit Company, which offered breakfast with scratch-made biscuits, freshly baked pastry and local, small-batch artisan coffee, said it will cease operations at 16 Columbia Ave. in Reading after its July 1 hours.

· FastBridge Fiber has announced it will build an all-fiber cable network that will offer ultra-fast internet in the Reading area.

· Hamid Chaudhry has said he no longer plans to move forward with pursuing a food truck park he previously proposed on the site of the former Sheetz convenience store and gas station in Exeter Township at 6600 Perkiomen Ave. (Route 422 East). 

· The Maxatawny Township Planning Commission has OK’d a proposal for a Mavis Discount Tire store in the Kutztown Road shopping center that features a Giant supermarket.

· Valentino’s Italian restaurant has gotten Maxatawny Township’s approval to remain open when the state transportation department takes one-third of its parking lot to build a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Route 222 and Long Lane.

· Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson, under new ownership, will hold a “Grand Re-Opening Bash” July 9 and July 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

· Sauce West End plans to open in a former Rita’s Italian Ice, just off Route 209 across from the Tractor Supply store in Brodheadsville.

· The Surgery Center of Pottsville, which offered medical procedure services for 16 years in Cressona Mall. will close June 28.

· Wells Fargo has closed its branch office in Langhorne, near the intersection with Maple Avenue.

· The latest PrimoHoagies location in New Jersey held a grand opening at 1930 State Route 57, Hackettstown.

· A new Tractor Supply Co. store in Warren County will have its grand opening in the former Toys ‘R’ Us store in Pohatcong Plaza on July 9.

· Hunter Pocono Peterbilt plans to move Pocono Township operations to Stroudsburg.

· Coal Winery and Kitchen at 81 Broad St., Bethlehem, has closed as its owner searches for a new location for the business, according to its Facebook page. 

· Lowhill Township supervisors approved a 312,120-square-foot commercial warehouse and distribution center on a 43.4-acre tract on the west side of Route 100, south of the Kernsville Road intersection.

· The Mint Gastropub at 1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, announced that it has temporarily closed to undergo a merger with a “well-known restaurant group” from Bethlehem.

· The Slatington Farmers Market opened its 28,000-square-foot showroom, which includes space for 53 vendors, as well as a 4,000-square-foot event space.

· St. Luke’s University Health Network opened a new pediatric inpatient unit next to the eight-bed pediatric intensive care unit at St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem.

· 25th Asian House opened at the location of the former Tin Tin Chinese restaurant in the 25th Street Shopping Center in Palmer Township.

· The Chick-Fil-A in Broadcasting Square shopping center in Spring Township was razed to make way for a new, expanded facility for the popular chicken sandwich restaurant.

· Plans for drive-thru locations of a Chipotle and a Starbucks at the intersection of Ivy League Drive and Kutztown Road were rejected by Maxatawny Township planners.

· Cumru Township plannes reviewed preliminary plans for NorthPoint-Morgantown Commerce Center, a 738,720-square-foot warehouse to be built on 75.2 acres at Morgantown Road (State Route 10) and Freemansville Road.

· Kutztown University has plans to expand its historic Poplar House to 13,161 square feet with an addition around its side and back, but keep the 129-year-old structure intact.

· A wine store and beverage outlet could be coming to a new two-unit building along the commercial strip of Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Lehighton, Carbon County.

· ChristianaCare, a Delaware health care organization, has announced it will buy the former Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Chester County.

· Garden of Health Inc. celebrated the opening of the food bank’s new warehouse at 201 Church Road, North Wales, in Montgomery County.

· Silverline Trailers Inc. opened its first location in Pennsylvania and in the Northeast at 223 Porter Road, Pottstown, where it sells utility, cargo, dump, equipment and car hauler trailers. 

· A new smoothie and bowl restaurant, Sips & Berries, opened at 285 Maple Ave., Harleysville, in Montgomery County.

· Terrain on the Parkway offers 160 new 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments at 1625 Lehigh Parkway East in Allentown. 

· Lehigh Valley native Don Wenner is moving his real estate investment and finance firm DLP Capital from Bethlehem to Allentown at 835 W. Hamilton St.

· While Wells Fargo has been the leader in closing banks lately, it will hold a ribbon-cutting for its new downtown Allentown office at 740 Hamilton St. on June 30.

· If you’re in the market for sterling silver jewelry, minerals and semi-precious gemstones, C& I Minerals is now operating at the South Mall at 3300 Lehigh St. in Allentown.

· The Allentown-based utility company PPL Corp. bought a major Rhode Island utility.

· Ownership at Martellucci’s Pizzeria in Bethlehem has changed, but Paul and Donna Hlavinka and their family are running the pizza place at 1419 Easton Ave., just as it has been operated for 49 years. 

· Dr. Jacob Kasprenski’s new Kasprenski Family Eye Care opened at 1088 Howertown Road, Catasauqua.

· Josie’s New York Deli in downtown Easton closed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, but a June 13 Historic District Commission meeting approved a request for a new sign at its building at 14 Centre Square. 

· Zekraft cafe has opened its second location in the Easton Silk Mill in Easton. The first Zekraft restaurant was opened in Bethlehem. The restaurants’ menus change frequently, with a focus on local ingredients. 

· Manta Massage at 319 Main St., Emmaus, will hold its grand opening on July 10 starting at 11 a.m. 

· The former Iron Lakes Country Club, constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, will operate at 3625 Shankweiler Road in North Whitehall Township under its new name, The Club at Twin Lakes. 

· Prologis, a titan in the logistics industry, will own and operate three warehouses proposed in Upper Macungie Township at the former Air Products headquarters campus at 7201 Hamilton Blvd. 

· Lehigh Valley Health Network ceremonially opened its first Carbon County hospital — a $78 million, 100,578-square-foot facility at 2128 Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Mahoning Township.

· Pocono Township commissioners voted to accept Swiftwater Solar’s preliminary final plan for the $111 million, 80-megawatt field on a private 644-acre site on top of Bear Mountain that would include about 200,000 solar panels.

· Firetree Ltd. wants to expand its in-patient rehab operation at the former Sands Ford auto dealership at 440 N Claude A Lord Blvd. (Route 61), Pottsville.

· A Dunkin’ in Schuylkill County located at 400 Terry Rich Blvd., St. Clair, has become just the fourth location of the donut and coffee chain to go entirely digital. 

· The Conservatory music school in Bucks County will close after 34 years, and school officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is the cause. The nonprofit, located at 4059 Skyron Drive, Doylestown, will close June 30.

· A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Arby’s will be built on the site of the former Ahart’s Market on Route 22 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

· Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce offices and the Unity Bank Center for Business & Entrepreneurship will be located at 119 Main St., Flemington. 

· Honeygrow opens Quakertown location, next to Chipotle on Route 309, on June 3.

· Dunkin’ reopens remodeled restaurant at 1174 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township

· Muse Modern Med Spa at 325 Fifth St. in Whitehall Township  will hold a grand opening June 4.

· Around Again, a consignment store, opened at 154 S. Main St., Phillipsburg

· Steak and Steel Hibachi, a restaurant in the works at 44 W. Walnut St., Bethlehem, still plans on opening late this summer. 

· Take It Outdoors Recreation Hub has moved to a spot along the Schuylkill River Trail at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, Montgomery County

· Pedego Electric Bikes has a new outlet in Lambertville, N.J. at 13 N. Union St.

· Amanda Vachris has opened a new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St. in Schuylkill Haven.

· Easton’s new West Ward Market will open Wednesday and be open on Wednesday’s through the summer from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The market, created by the Greater Easton Development Partnership, will sell fresh produce on 12th Street, next to Paxinosa Elementary School.

· Ciao Sandwich Shoppe is adding a second location, this time on College Hill in Easton. Ciao plans to open at 325 Cattell St. in late summer. Ciao already operates in downtown Easton at 12 N. Third St

· Ma’s Crepes and Cakes will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting June 16 at 46 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe. The celebration starts at 5 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 5:45 p.m. 

· Bethlehem’s Back Door Bakeshop will reopen as a wholesale operation at 7 E. Church St. in the city’s historic district. The business was open for nine years as a retail outlet at Broad and Center streets, before announcing in March that it would close the storefront April 3 and “go back to its origins as a wholesale business.”

·The Beef Baron on Catasauqua Road in Bethlehem is closed indefinitely for renovations

· The Brothers That Just Do Gutters are opening a new location in Allentown at 1302 N. 18th St.

· St. John Chrysostom Academy, an Orthodox school serving grades 1-9 starting this fall, held a grand opening at its St. Francis Center, Bethlehem, campus.

· Easton Commons, a shopping center anchored by Giant Foods at 2920 Easton Ave., Bethlehem Township, has a new name: The Shops at Bethlehem.

· Carbon County is getting a taste of Brazil at Uai Brasil BBQ at 315 Lehigh Ave. in Palmerton.

· The Keystone Pub in Bethlehem Township, at 3259 Easton Avenue, has reopened after a lengthy and expensive renovation. 

· The Trading Post Depot opened at 401 Northampton St., Easton. The rustic furniture store makes custom tables for dining rooms, desktops, conference centers and more.

· The Easton area has a new gym: Homemade Fitness at 444 Cedarville Road in Williams Township.

· Il Gaetano Ristorante opened at its 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg, location. 

· Ciao! Sandwich Shoppe to open second location on College Hill in Easton, replacing The Kettle Room

· Rene and Grisellies Benique have opened Ezekiel 47 Cafe at 10 S. Fifth Ave., off Fifth and Penn avenues, in West Reading. 

· Alter Ego Salon and Day Spa in Emmaus is holding a grand opening Sunday, May 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at noon. 

· Origen Latin Fusion has opened at the site of the former Tomcat Cafe in Sinking Spring, Berks County. 

· Sellersville Senior Residences will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 24. The Bucks County affordable-housing community for adults 55 and older has 50 apartments, with eight allocated for people with behavioral health needs.

· The House and Barn in Emmaus has opened its Shed outdoor dining and cigar bar area. The House and Barn is at 1449 Chestnut St. in Emmaus.

· Realtor Amanda Vachris and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at Vachris’s new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven, at 4 p.m. on May 24.

· Il Gaetano Ristorante will hold a grand opening on Friday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. The 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg.

· First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union will hold a grand opening at its new headquarters in Trexlertown, 6126 Hamilton Blvd., on May 18.

· Vinyl Press Signs & Graphics has relocated within Emmaus. The new site is 15 S. Second St., not far from the former Sixth Street location.

· Pedro’s Cafe in Emmaus to close

· SV Sports (formerly Schuylkill Valley Sports) to close Quakertown location

· Flemington DIY will host a Grand Re-Opening on May 14 at 26 Stangl Road, Flemington. The celebration will kick off at 10 a.m. 

· Elpedio’s Ristorante at Seipsville opened at 2912 Old Nazareth Road in Easton. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday.

· Uai Brazil opened at 315 Lehigh Ave, Palmerton, offering both a seated or buffet option. 

· Colombian Mex Restaurant opened at 107 E Union Blvd in Bethlehem, offering traditional Colombian cuisine. 

· Precision Ink opened at 161 W Berwick St. in Easton. 

· King Wing opened a location in Bethlehem at 129 E. Third St., serving wings and sandwiches.  

The post San Francisco police arrest man with $200K in stolen items | Enterprise Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

A San Francisco shoplifter was filmed filling a bag with stolen goods behind the counter of a Walgreens store as staff stood helplessly and watched.

The heist took place on Tuesday at a Walgreens in the Richmond area of ​​the city, and saw the brazen shoplifter hurl bananas and cookies at one man who confronted him.

It is the latest in a long line of shocking shoplifting outrages to hit the famously-liberal Bay Area.

San Francisco and its Bay Area neighbors have been hit hard by a wave of property crimes and smash-and-grab robberies since the start of the pandemic. That has forced multiple branches of Walgreens to close in a bid to stem their theft-related losses amid mounting criticism of soft-on-crime DAs many say are enabling the widespread criminality.

Cellphone video captured by professional photographer Nicholas Stennet shows a man dressed in all black removing items from shelves behind the counter of the San Francisco drug store with utter disregard for two store workers standing right next to him.

One of the employees is on the phone with a 911 dispatcher, reporting a robbery in progress.

At the beginning of the clip, the brazen shoplifter can be seen behind the counter stuffing some of the Walgreens’ most valuable items into a huge bag, while helpless staff look on

Moments later, he was confronted by a male shopper, pictured left, but didn’t take kindly to the check on his behavior…

‘We have this person that is… taking everything from the counter,’ the woman says. ‘Can you send the cops? Can you send them right away, please?’

The looter, meanwhile, calmly moves to a different section of the counter and continues to fill a plastic bag with a variety of goods, including COVID tests, batteries and electronics, according to one eyewitness.

After ransacking the shelves to his heart’s content, the criminal emerges from behind the counter and makes it for the exit.

When a bystander makes an attempt to stand up to him, the audacious bandit grabs a bunch of bananas from a basket and forcefully hurls them at the man, who picks up some of the fruit and lobs them back at the attacker.

…and ended up hurling bananas at the would-be Good Samaritan, who then responded in kind

The shoplifter was evidently annoyed by the have-a-go hero’s decision to stand up to him, and returned to hurl nuts and candy at the unfortunate man

Visibly annoyed by such a hostile reception, the shoplifter grabs packets of chips Ahoy! from a nearby shelf and pelts the Good Samaritan with them, before storming out of he store and triggering the alarm on his way out.

Drug store chains like Walgreens and CVS have become attractive and easy targets for shoplifters, leading to numerous store closures in the Bay Area. In the area’s largest city, San Francisco, low-level offenses, such as retail thefts, have been effectively de-criminalized under the leadership of progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

Boudin, who in a recent interview with the New York Times argued that tough-on-crime policies do not work and blamed the police for the San Francisco’s soaring crime rates, is facing a recall vote on June 7.

Liberal San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin, whose soft-on-crime policies have been blamed for San Francisco’s soaring crime rates, is facing a recall vote in June

Roving gangs of criminals have been carrying out brazen smash-and-grab robberies, targeting high-end stores like Louis Vuitton and Burberry, but also national chains like Walgreens and CVS.

Walgreens said last year that retail theft in San Francisco was five times the chain average and security costs were 46 times the chain average, reported San Francisco Chronicle.

According to the latest available crime data, grand larceny rates in California’s liberal bastion were up 19 per cent in late February, compared with the same period last year.

California Gov Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, has vowed to crack down on gangs of retail thieves, despite a controversial 2014 law – Proposition 47 – that barred prosecutors from charging suspected shoplifters accused of stealing less than $950 worth of merchandise with felonies.

The post Shoplifter struts behind counter of San Francisco Walgreens and fills bag full with stolen items appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.