MedMen’s latest facility, in Orange County, had its grand opening over the holiday weekend.
SANTA ANA, Calif–Cannabis firm MedMen celebrated the grand opening of their newest dispensary, located in Orange County, California, on Saturday, July 1, with a ribbon-cutting, vendor giveaways, and discounts.
At the event, Santa Ana City Councilmembers Jose Solorio and Vicente Samiento cut the ribbon with MedMen co-founder and CEO Adam Bierman, officially opening the store to customers.
“The City of Santa Ana is one of those that’s decided to be a little more progressive and get out in front of cannabis legalization–they want to do it right,” said MedMen Communications Director Daniel Yi.
He reiterated what the city councilmen had said earlier to the crowd gathered for the ribbon-cutting, “Their point of view is that this is happening, so, let’s do it right and let’s work to establish responsible standards and practices because this means jobs and tax base for our city.”
In fact, MedMen received 1,500 employment applications for the twenty jobs available at the Santa Ana facility. Applicants came from diverse backgrounds, though response from younger applicants indicated that many are seeking career positions. Yi said the response wasn’t typical of previous openings, but MedMen’s culture of promoting from within encouraged job seekers and new hires who want to establish long term careers.
“I think [applicants] see there’s a future with cannabis, and upward mobility,” he said. “It says a lot about the employment market.”
Located in an industrial park, the 8,000 square-foot facilities are painted bright red on the outside, with neon signage. The interior follows through with the company’s streamlined store style–woods, windows, and a light, open floor plan. The retail floor is 3,000 square feet, with a processing area and offices onsite.
First-time patients were able to shop nearly five hundred different products; flower and combustibles are presented on digital tablets that line tall wood counters, with edibles and other refrigerated products stocked in a wall-mounted cooler. Additional merchandising lined the clean, white walls.
A diverse selection of locals turned out for the event, which was crowded at times with customers and media personnel. Several senior citizens took advantage of promotional gift bags, as well as product information from brand representatives and red-shirted budtenders. Purchases throughout the grand opening event also offered special discounts.
Vendors that participated in the festivities included Papa & Barkley, Lowell Farms, Legacy Strains, Marley Naturals, Canndescent, Dixie Brands, Mary Jane Juice, Moxie 710, and Treat Yourself edibles, among others.
MedMen has six dispensaries located in California and New York. Yi added that MedMen’s Mustang grow facility near Reno, Nevada, is currently under construction. In 2017, MedMen will break ground on a grow facility in Desert Hot Springs, California. The company also is working with local New York City officials to make progress on a MedMen dispensary that will be located in midtown Manhattan.
