In the late 1990s, I lived in the neighborhood of the Chico French Gourmet Bakery (9th and Esplanade).  I remember that the almond croissants were AMAZING, but you had to be there right when they opened - 6AM - to get one.  I knew someone who worked there, so I asked them why they didn't simply make more of these,  They told me that the owner was a brilliant chef but terrible business person.

Strangely, I recall that the first FGB opened in Durham, in a little tiny shop.  Friends and I would ride from Chico to Durham on summer mornings to have coffee and pastries.  The Chico location opened around 1997 or 1998, I think.  

According to the 2001 Chico News and Review Dining Guide (https://www.newsreview.com/chico/content/wine-and-dine/5229/):

It looks like it appeared for the last time in the April 2004 Chico News and Review Visitor Guide, so perhaps it closed in 2005?

It had definitely closed by 2009, according to another article in the Chico News and Review:

LaPado-Breglia, C. G.K.  "Wildflower Chronicles: Checking in with Ed McLaughlin, who recounts the blossoming of Chico's spring bike race." Chico News and Review, 23 Apr. 2009.