News
Enter the altruist
On the top shelf of the bookcase above his office desk, Farshad Azad displays a soccer ball. It’s from the 2014 World Cup, now slightly deflated—seemingly out of place among mementos more apropos of the […]
Small business
Opinions
Guest comment: Free help for small business
Businesses in Butte County have faced many challenges since the Camp Fire in 2018. These were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the economy remained mostly locked down, the Butte College Small Business Development Center […]
News
Entrepreneurs 2022: Reinvention
The only economic certainty during the COVID-19 pandemic is change. Some businesses have shut their doors for good (including the beloved Maltese Bar & Tap Room, open for one more weekend of events—Feb. 4-5—before closing). […]
News
‘Light at the end of the tunnel’
It’s Sunday at noon, prime time for a brunch and lunch crowd, yet every table at La Hacienda on a recent April weekend sits empty. Co-owner Michelle Sereda is the sole person on the premises, […]
Camp Fire
Can PG&E limit outages?
While economists are trying to determine just how stark the new COVID-19 reality is for mom-and-pop businesses, a recent survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce suggests the situation hasn’t hit rock bottom: Forty-three percent of […]
Arts & Culture
Virtual icons
Altogether, Chico Art Center (65), The Bookstore (44) and Pageant Theatre (40) have been around for a total of 149 years. While the future remains uncertain for all businesses and nonprofit groups, these three local […]