As the largest California city north of Sacramento, Chico is home to several businesses that make it the cultural, economic, and educational center of northern Sacramento Valley. Over the years, the city has been nicknamed several things, including the City of Roses and the City of Trees, and it’s been designated as a Tree City USA for 31 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. With its stunning landscape, rich culture, and thriving economic scene, it is a great area to build commercial projects. 

Below are eight of the best commercial contractors in Chico, California. Each contractor was chosen only after we considered against several criteria, including years of experience in the industry, the quality of their completed projects, and the recognition they have received in the construction industry.

Slater & Son

3753 Morehead Avenue, Chico, CA 95928

Slater & Son is a known name in the Northern California construction scene. Having served the area for over 73 years, it is a trusted partner when it comes to commercial building and general contracting, for which it has been recognized with awards like the Project of Merit award in the Educational Category from the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and the Excellence in Design Award for two of its projects from the American Buildings Company.

Founder Donald H. Slater has a wide range of experience in the field and has worked on hundreds of homes and light commercial buildings in Northern California. 

Pictured below is the new and improved Chico Nissan that Slater & Son. This steel and wood hybrid structure is the result of the construction of a new 5,800 square foot showroom, the remodel of an existing 2,560 square foot retail parts store, and an expansive 12,644 square foot remodel of the service shop. With the size of this project, Slater & Son’s team worked on this project in multiple phases to ensure that the work wouldn’t disrupt business during construction.

Modern Building Company

3083 Southgate Lane, Chico, CA 95928

Backed by 75 years of experience in the field, Modern Building Company is a diverse northern California-based general contractor. With its wide range of expertise and trusted client service, it is also licensed in the states of Oregon, Nevada, and Montana. That service range is a direct result of satisfied clients requesting Modern Building Company for projects beyond California. 

The firm’s high-quality work is due to the owners’ hands-on approach to each job. The firm is engaged in a wide array of construction types, including concrete tilt-wall facilities,  multi-story steel frame buildings, single and multi-story wood frame buildings on concrete slabs, pre-engineered steel buildings, and more. The firm is a one-stop-shop for its clients’ growing needs, regardless of the size and budget of the project. Modern Building Company is also certified by the American Council of Engineering Companies California (ACEC), ACEC National, the Chico Chamber of Commerce, and it is also a member of OSHA 30, CPR/First Aid. 

Featured is the firm’s work on The Quads at Meriam Park. The project consists of five two-story four-plex apartment buildings, built to be part of the greater Meriam Park Development with shared amenities with other apartment developments provided by Modern. The apartments in The Quads are designed with the firm’s signature modern flare, with the exterior consisting of plaster, metal panels, fiber cement siding, and standing seam metal roof panels. Inside, residents enjoy 16’ tall ceilings and lovely skewed balconies that have clear views of the mountains to the East. 

Hilbers

770 N Walton Avenue, Suite 100, Yuba City, CA 95993

Hilbers is a fully outfitted general contractor that provides all the necessary materials, labor, equipment, and services to all of the projects it takes on. As a hands-on general contractor, the firm manages the hiring of trusted specialized subcontractors chosen based on a competitive process that ensures each part of the job is done right, on time, and within budget. With nearly 60 years of experience in construction and engineering, the firm has an expansive portfolio with a particular emphasis on commercial construction.

The Surf Thru Express Car Wash 2.0, located in Chico, is one of the firm’s auto service facilities. Hilburn did the ground-up construction of this car wash that conserves water and prevents water pollution by treating all wash water before it is returned to the environment. 

Gheen Builders

8719 Airport Road, Suite B, Redding, CA 96002

Gheen Builders was founded in 2007. Over the past 14 years, it has rapidly grown to become one of Northern California’s premier building contractors. The firm practices a preemptive approach to general contracting which allows the team to anticipate problems, prepare solutions, and craft opportunities that could save time and increase value. When it comes to commercial projects, the firm can provide comprehensive site evaluation and the tools needed to negotiate a lease or sale as well as commercial/retail space selection. 

The firm is currently headed by Steve Gheen who brings to the table a solid reputation created over 45 years in the construction industry and 16 years as a corporate construction business owner. In his career, he has had his hands on performing and managing all phases and types of construction be it public, private, commercial, or residential.

Pictured below is the Chico branch of the Buffalo Wild Wings. Gheen Builders provided the rough carpentry for this wood and metal hybrid structure; the stylish, modern restaurant that embodies the brand’s identity was the result. The team coordinated well with multiple other trades to ensure the timely construction of the building.

BCM Construction

2990 Hwy 32, Suite 100, Chico, CA 95973

Backed by 26 years of experience, BCM Construction Company is a reliable general contractor based in Chico. With its extensive experience in serving the Western United States, the firm is known for being versatile, especially with its work in tilt-up concrete, precast concrete, pre-engineered steel buildings, steel-frame, and wood-frame structures. It perfects all major portions of the job as well with its own workforce to ensure more control over the quality of the output and the schedule of the project. 

With BCM Construction’s experience in building large-scale building projects like medical plazas and professional suites, BCM was well-equipped to build the concrete work for the Chico Student Housing. The project consisted of two 4-story residential apartments, 173 units, and one 4-level parking garage that can accommodate 380 spaces.

Conroy Construction

1350 E 9th Street, Suite 100, Chico, CA 95928

As a licensed general contractor and general engineer, Conroy Construction is a highly qualified contractor with a focus on commercial construction and custom homes. With 43 years of experience in the industry, it is known in the area as a dependable contractor, accredited with the Chico Builders Association, the Valley Contractors Exchange, the Chico Chamber of Commerce, the Paradise Ridge Chamber of Commerce, and Rebuilding the North Valley.

Conroy Construction is also known for being strongly integrated with the surrounding community, as evidenced by its efforts in helping to rebuild the neighboring community of Paradise which was devastated by the campfire that almost completely destroyed the area. Its grounded relationship with the communities it serves is also reflected in the kind of projects it seeks to create. A sample is Conroy Construction’s work on Tea Bar Express, a welcoming restaurant with a warm atmosphere thanks to the wood detailing in the interior. 

Holt Construction

36 Bellarmine Court, Chico, CA 95928

Holt Construction prides itself on leading in the construction industry with its use of a sophisticated project management system called Procore that keeps stakeholders connected and efficient. In its 15 years in the business, it has proven itself to be a very reliable partner when it comes to tenant infills and improvement as well as the ground-up construction of offices, restaurants, and medical facilities. 

Though a relatively small firm located in sunny Northern California, its work can be found in Washington, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, and California, with a specialization in restaurant remodels, which reflects in its extensive portfolio. Holt Construction has provided hands-on work for big-name brands, particularly in the fast-food industry. The Wendy’s in Chico is a great example of Holt Construction’s ability to showcase brand identity in the final product while providing specific details that render it unique to its specific location.