The Chamber of Commerce has deep roots in the community. Initially organized to promote local community improvement projects, the Chamber was established in 1936 electing Garth Bateman its first president and Joe Martyn Turner, a popular realtor and later City Councilman, as its initial Managing Director.

By 1940, the Chamber had grown and broadened its focus to include both the commercial and residential areas of the city. This proved to be a fortunate move since, during World War II, and in the post war years the city experienced its greatest homebuilding and population growth. During this period the Chamber was on hand to effectively help speed the transformation of the community into a middle-income "City of Homes."

Over the years, the Chamber led a nomadic existence meeting in City Hall, restaurants and office buildings. It was in 1991 that the organization moved into its present location at 10848 San Pablo Avenue. This 75 year old building once housed the offices of the Valley of the Moon Quarry and later the Contra Costa Florist.

The Collins Family played an active role in getting the Chamber its first "home of its own." Marge Collins, the Chamber's 2001 President, researched the history of the building where the Chamber is now located. Her husband, retired builder Marvin Collins, played a key role in convincing the Rotary Club of El Cerrito to refurbish the building as a community service project. The result of everyone's effort is a unique building with front and interior quarry stone facing, which some consider something of a historical monument.

Thanks to the Collins Family, Rotary Club of El Cerrito and property owner Joe Conwill, the Chamber can serve the community as an information center and recruit and serve member businesses in a street-level San Pablo Avenue location near City Hall.

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