What Starbucks’ Downtown Transition Really Says About Chico. Downtown has never been about national chains. What people love about downtown Chico is its local businesses — independent shops, restaurants, and services that reflect the creativity and character of this community. Starbucks was the rare exception, not the defining feature.

The decision to consolidate the downtown store into Starbucks’ newer Mangrove Avenue location is not related to performance, parking, safety, or homelessness. Rather, it reflects a broader corporate strategy that has been underway for several years