If someone asks me where to find a gift that really feels like Chico, I tell them to go to 127 W 3rd St. That's Made in Chico, right between Main and Broadway in the Nottelmann Building. It's not a hard call.
Local artists apply to have their work sold here. The store puts every maker through a genuine vetting process — only items that are high quality and actually represent Chico well make it onto the shelves. What you see in there earned its place.
Walk in and you'll see handthrown pottery, photography prints, beaded pieces hanging near the windows, and jewelry in a black iron display case. The brick walls and wood floors of the Nottelmann Building have been there a long time. The place feels real, not fake-rustic.
The food section is worth a stop on its own. Chico Spice Co. rubs, Chico Chai, Lagom Infusions teas, hot sauces, pickles, flavored almonds — real talk, it's one of the easiest host gifts you'll ever put together. If someone is visiting from out of town, a bag from this shelf tells the story of the North Valley better than anything you could say.
Then there are the Poppy Rose Candle Co. candles. Small-batch, coconut-soy wax, hand poured right here in Chico. The scents are named City of Trees, Upper Park, and Someone in Chico Loves You. As a local, the Upper Park candle hits close to home — cottonwood, eucalyptus, and pine, just like a morning walk through Upper Bidwell. It's the right welcome gift for anyone new to town.
Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 am to 7 pm, with holiday updates at madeinchico.shop.
If you want to support local artists and one of the best small businesses in downtown Chico, go check out Made in Chico. Trust me on this — you'll find something worth taking home.