Everybody’s business

A new environment
There’s a new business in downtown Chico. No, it’s not a new bar or restaurant—but it might be considered the next best thing.

John Lane and Laura Lukes have moved their new environmental-consulting firm, Chico Environmental Science and Planning, LLC, to the corner of Fourth and Main streets right above Melody Records.

John, who was the Lane in his previous business, Lane, Hess & Associates, is a registered geologist and registered environmental assessor. Laura, who’s worked with local watershed groups and planning firms, will provide planning services in compliance with CEQA and NEPA regulations to private and public entities.

Lukes said the new consulting firm will concentrate on local and regional projects.

Lane and Lukes share the space with Upstate CA, LLC, which provides high-tech geographical-information system (GIS) services, as well as two local artists.

Thrifty decision
Children’s Campus Ministries Family Thrift is moving from its current location on 14th Street and Park Avenue to Nord Avenue, in the same building as Chico Honda Motorcycles. Manager Barry Coccellato said he’s looking to be in the new location by March 1.

The new locale will provide not only more parking, says Coccellato, but also more space to stock furniture items like dressers and bookcases while keeping the store’s selection of clothing. He added that all clothing items cost only a buck.

The thrift shop will also purchase used furniture from college students who don’t want to deal with lugging those old couches with them.

Children’s Campus Ministries provides job skills for at-risk boys between the ages of 12 and 17 years old.

Welcome to Paradise
I noticed a listing for some bands playing in a spot in Paradise called Abbotswood Restaurant and Lounge.

It turns out the restaurant has been there since May. But owner Max Barteau said he is hoping to provide more live entertainment in the future—possibly on the third weekend of each month. He said the restaurant/lounge currently offers karaoke night on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Barteau said the menu consists of steak, seafood and pasta dishes for dinner and sandwiches, pasta and salads for lunch—all in the $15 to $25 range.

Acapulco aquí en Chico
Tacos de Acapulco, which for years has provided late-night grub for students at its Ivy Street location, is branching out.

First, I noticed a few people taking advantage of last Sunday’s sunny weather to paint a new sign for Tacos de Acapulco, which moved its Park Avenue store across the street about a week ago.

Ramiro A. Dillanes, owner of the Park Avenue location, said he signed the lease for the building next to the Econo-Wash Laundromat in October. Dillanes said he moved the business from the old location next door to Angie’s Poker Club because rent was a little cheaper.

For those who live a little farther from the downtown area, there’s also a new Tacos de Acapulco on Forest Avenue where the Azteca Grill was located, next to Great Harvest Bread Company.