Companies Leaving California
Shelter Distilling Leaves California for Colorado
Shelter Distilling left California for Colorado in 2022. The company employs approximately 10 people, though it is unclear how many were directly affected by the relocation.
In Buildremote's database of companies leaving California, Shelter Distilling is one of 8 companies that have moved to Colorado — 4% of our total database, and one of 36 that left (17% of all tracked departures) in 2022. Shelter Distilling is also one of 90 companies with fewer than 100 employees to have left the state, accounting for 43% of all relocations in our database.
Moved To
Colorado
When
1/20/2022
Employees
10
Moved From
California
"Shelter Distilling, a distillery, brewery and kitchen currently located in Mammoth Lakes, California, announced plans on Wednesday to build a two-story, 23,000 square-foot facility within the Colorado Outdoors campus." — Source
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Shelter Distilling leave California?
Shelter Distilling left California in 1/20/2022.
Where is Shelter Distilling headquartered now?
Shelter Distilling relocated its headquarters to Colorado after leaving California.
Why Are Companies Leaving California?
Companies cite a consistent set of reasons for leaving California: taxes, regulation, and the cost of living. Executives have pointed to the ability to reduce state corporate tax rates by more than a third after relocating, and many describe searching for a "more sustainable place to do business." California's regulatory environment is frequently mentioned — in the state, "local rules could dictate how the company chooses board members, for instance."
Talent is another major factor. While California has long been a talent magnet, executives now describe finding "a great talent pool" in their new states — and the ability for employees to actually afford to live there. As one CEO put it, their employees can be homeowners in Texas, "which in the Bay Area is virtually impossible."
Others cite cultural reasons: an "increasing intolerance and monoculture of Silicon Valley," and a desire to find a state with "a strong economic climate with low taxes, reasonable regulations, and a high-caliber workforce." States like Texas, Florida, and Arizona have actively marketed themselves as alternatives — Arizona, for instance, offering "the ideal conditions of being business-friendly, offering a high quality of life at reasonable cost."
For many companies, the decision comes down to practical business needs: "our business needs, opportunities for cost savings, and team members" — and an acknowledgment that there were "some symmetries in the way that the Bay Area works that just didn't really work well for us."
Buildremote Research
Companies Leaving California — The Complete Database
Every company that has left California since 2020. Destinations, dates, employee counts, and sources — all in one spreadsheet.
Related California Research
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Discuss Shelter Distilling's Move
Data compiled by Buildremote. Last updated April 23, 2026. Sources linked above.