Skyway Tool Center

Specialties

Quality tools at an affordable price. We carry American made drill bits from Viking Drill Bit, Grey Pneumatic sockets that are incredibly strong and durable, automotive specialty tools, and other tools that can be used either professionally or at home. We don’t like to carry tools that will fall apart, so we’ve honed our inventory since 1986 to always carry great tools, regardless of where they are manufactured.

In addition we carry Ingersoll Rand and Chicago Pneumatic Air Tools, Lisle, KD, OTC and ATD Automotive Specialty Tools, SK, GearWrench, Knipex, Channellocks and V8 Hand Tools, Makita and other brands of power tools. We carry precision tools, air accessories, nailers and staplers, abrasives, punches, letter stamps, hammers, screwdrivers — you name it! We’ve got about 8000 different tool items.

We also carry used tools and recycled, food grade containers like buckets, barrels and IBC totes. Burlap sacks, wooden crates and other recycled items.

History

Established in 1986.

Skyway Tool Center was founded by owner Doug Gillis in 1986 as a tiny tool shop in Paradise, California. What began as a small endeavor quickly became a successful tool store, moving to a larger location within 2 years. When Gillis met wife, Sherry, he brought her in as the office manager and the business continued booming, opening a second location in Chico in 1993. In 2005 the Gillis Family built the 6500 square foot Skyway Tool Center at the corner of Bruce Road and Skyway in Chico and moved everything under one roof. The last independently owned tool store in the North Valley region, Skyway Tool Center is still going strong today and meeting the tool needs of this area.

Meet the Business Owner

Doug G.

Business Owner

Doug Gillis was born and raised in Oroville, California and attended Oroville High School, graduating in 1964. After service in Vietnam in 1966 – 67, he attended college and graduated from Sacramento City College, CSU-​Sacramento and then attended CSU-​SF. He worked at the Pacific Coast Producers in Oroville for many years, then founded Skyway Tools in 1986. He married wife Sherry in 1992 and the couple have worked hard to make Skyway Tool Center thrive. A loving family man, Gillis has one adult daughter, Suzanne.

Gillis has an extensive hood ornament collection on display in the tool store, as well as an ax and hatchet collection and antique tool collection. He enjoys spending time at his property in Berry Creek, CA for relaxation. With lots of friends swirling around the tool store, he always has a project he is working on with someone. He loves old cars and motorcycles and enjoys collecting coins, in addition to keeping track of the gold and silver market.