Stories · Chico

Chico, in stories.

16 stories written by the people who actually live Chico. Updated as the city changes.

One Mile: The Coolest Place to Spend a Hot Chico Afternoon

When Chico heats up, Sycamore Pool is the place to be. Tucked inside Bidwell Park's One Mile Recreation Area, it's free to enjoy, and welcoming to everyone in the community.

2 min read

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Upper Crust Bakery: The Kind of Place That Reminds You What Local Means

At 130 Main Street, Upper Crust earns every return visit — scratch-made pastries, a full lunch menu, and a corkboard that tells you exactly what kind of place this is.

3 min read

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Chico Paper Company Has Been Framing This Town for 46 Years

At 4th and Broadway, Chico Paper Company is a working gallery and a serious framing shop — run by people who actually know every artist on the wall.

3 min read

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Fresh Bread, Local Honey, and Beautiful Bouquets Make Any Saturday Morning Better!

Every Saturday at 2nd & Wall, the Chico Certified Farmers Market draws the best local growers and makers in the region. Here's why I never miss it.

3 min read

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Dinner, drinks, friends, and the big game—all on one patio!

On East Ave, Pour House has an outdoor bar setup that does everything right — soccer on a wall-sized screen, solid drinks, and food worth staying for.

2 min read

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Down Range Chico's Community First Mindset Reflects in All They Do.

Steve and Jessica Dyke opened Down Range in 2013 with a cop's instinct for safety and a community-first mindset. What they built is unlike anything else in the North State.

3 min read

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Meet the Chico Crew That Shows Up, Suits Up, and Clears It Out

Andrew Haskins and his NorCal Trash Pandas team handle the jobs nobody else wants — hoarder houses, hazmat cleanouts, massive commercial hauls — same-day, seven days a week across Butte County.

2 min read

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Bodega Slice Shop: Your Pizza Standards Are About to Change

Bodega Slice Shop at 148 Main Street serves honest New York-style pizza by the slice — giant pies, serious crust, and a lemon trick you'll want to try.

2 min read

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Pasha: You'll Come for the Rugs. You'll Stay for the Stories.

Hasan & Jale Safak have built something rare at 212 Main St — a shop where every rug carries a story, a technique, and in some cases, a century of history.

3 min read

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The Prettiest Drinks in My Fridge Right Now.

Two locations, a farmers market presence, 100% organic cold-pressed juices, and housemade açaí bowls — Live Life Juice Co. fits right into the feel of Chico.

3 min read

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Sometimes the best office is a neighborhood coffee shop!

When I need a change of scenery, Daycamp Coffee in Meriam Park is one of my go-to spots — great coffee, good food, and an upstairs area that's perfect for getting things done.

3 min read

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The Date Night We Didn't Know We Needed: Perspire Sauna in Chico

Full-spectrum infrared, red light therapy, halotherapy — and iced towels waiting on the other side. My husband and I tried Perspire Sauna Studio on the Esplanade. Here's my honest take.

3 min read

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Northern Star Mills: Serving Chico Families for Over a Century

Northern Star Mills at 510 Esplanade has been part of Chico since 1898 — pet food, garden seeds, farm supplies, and live chicks. New owners David and Delphine Jespersen took over in 2024. The store didn't flinch.

3 min read

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I Walked Past The Bookstore and Lost an Hour of My Day

I was mid-errand downtown when the window display pulled me off course. Over 70,000 titles, creaky hardwood floors, and staff who actually know books — The Bookstore will cost you at least an hour.

2 min read

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Made in Chico: Where Every Shelf is Connected to our Community

127 W 3rd St is where you go when you want something that actually means something. Made in Chico carries locally made goods from vetted artists — pottery, jewelry, candles, and a food section that tells the North Valley story.

2 min read

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The Best Morning You Can Have 12 Miles East of Chico

I've made the drive to Sierra Cascade Blueberry Farm every summer for a few years now. This year Denise came with me. Certified organic, $6.50 a pound, cash only — picking starts at 7 a.m.

2 min read

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