Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Seaview, Washington - Peninsula residents looking to buy marijuana will soon have an option close to home. Mr. Doobees, a Raymond-based retail marijuana dispensary, is branching out to Seaview.
The new store on 40th Street is likely to open in late July, pending a final inspection by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.
"We're shooting for the end of July," said H.J. Norris, a managing member of Mr. Doobees.
Looking for a chance
After an initial bid to open a shop in Long Beach didn't pan out, Mr. Doobees opened in Raymond in November 2014.
Upon returning to the peninsula when a commercial lot became available, Norris believed there would likely be some resistance by residents in their bid to open the first dispensary in Seaview. The difference this time was support and letters of recommendation from Raymond city officials, including one from the chief of police, according to Norris. He presented the testimonials during a permit meeting in June where Seaview residents weighed in with concerns.
Some attendees expressed concern that the new pot shop, located in a building that previously housed a Windermere real estate office, could bring unwanted traffic to the area. Others said they did not want a marijuana shop so close to the a school bus stop at North Place. Norris was willing to comply with the suggestions, which included a temporary fence to shield the marijuana business from view from the bus stop.
"It's a very reasonable request," Norris said, "We're really trying to do our best to be good stewards of the community."
All in the name
"Mr. Doobees" wasn't the original name of the business. They were just about to open their first store in Raymond when they became aware the initial name was considered too similar to an existing company.
"They asked us if we could change the name," Norris said. After some thought, a new name came to him. "I remembered the first concert I ever went to, it was the Doobie Brothers," he said. It was during that long-ago show in Los Angeles where Norris tried marijuana for the first time. It left a lasting impression. Norris altered the spelling from "Doobie" to "Doobee" to avoid any potential trademark clash with the rock band. "It was a great accidental choice that people identify with," he explained.
Locally grown, low price
Norris is mindful that there's less disposable income in rural areas, where minimum wages and fixed incomes are more common and lower prices are often a primary selling point.
"We offer very fair pricing," Norris said, adding there are often strains of pot in stock that sell for just $4 to $6 per gram. "The majority are under $10 per gram," Norris said. The average price for pot is $10.34 per gram, according to the liquor and cannabis board. Norris and his partners strive for a balance between quality and affordability.
"We don't look at it as being cheap, we look at it as being as fair as possible," Norris said. Since opening in 2014, Mr. Doobees has totaled $454,430 in retail sales. They've been averaging about $20,000 a month in sales so far in 2016. Their best month was August 2015, when nearly $36,000 in sales were recorded, according to state figures.
Norris credits a people-first philosophy for being the secret behind their early success.
"We treat them like human beings - we're not here to just collect their money," Norris explained. "We're not here to just serve cannabis. We're here to help you achieve any goal you might have. And I think that goes a long way with most folks."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pot Store Coming To The Peninsula
Author: Luke Whittaker
Contact: online@dailyastorian.com
Photo Credit: Luke Whittaker
Website: The Daily Astorian
The new store on 40th Street is likely to open in late July, pending a final inspection by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.
"We're shooting for the end of July," said H.J. Norris, a managing member of Mr. Doobees.
Looking for a chance
After an initial bid to open a shop in Long Beach didn't pan out, Mr. Doobees opened in Raymond in November 2014.
Upon returning to the peninsula when a commercial lot became available, Norris believed there would likely be some resistance by residents in their bid to open the first dispensary in Seaview. The difference this time was support and letters of recommendation from Raymond city officials, including one from the chief of police, according to Norris. He presented the testimonials during a permit meeting in June where Seaview residents weighed in with concerns.
Some attendees expressed concern that the new pot shop, located in a building that previously housed a Windermere real estate office, could bring unwanted traffic to the area. Others said they did not want a marijuana shop so close to the a school bus stop at North Place. Norris was willing to comply with the suggestions, which included a temporary fence to shield the marijuana business from view from the bus stop.
"It's a very reasonable request," Norris said, "We're really trying to do our best to be good stewards of the community."
All in the name
"Mr. Doobees" wasn't the original name of the business. They were just about to open their first store in Raymond when they became aware the initial name was considered too similar to an existing company.
"They asked us if we could change the name," Norris said. After some thought, a new name came to him. "I remembered the first concert I ever went to, it was the Doobie Brothers," he said. It was during that long-ago show in Los Angeles where Norris tried marijuana for the first time. It left a lasting impression. Norris altered the spelling from "Doobie" to "Doobee" to avoid any potential trademark clash with the rock band. "It was a great accidental choice that people identify with," he explained.
Locally grown, low price
Norris is mindful that there's less disposable income in rural areas, where minimum wages and fixed incomes are more common and lower prices are often a primary selling point.
"We offer very fair pricing," Norris said, adding there are often strains of pot in stock that sell for just $4 to $6 per gram. "The majority are under $10 per gram," Norris said. The average price for pot is $10.34 per gram, according to the liquor and cannabis board. Norris and his partners strive for a balance between quality and affordability.
"We don't look at it as being cheap, we look at it as being as fair as possible," Norris said. Since opening in 2014, Mr. Doobees has totaled $454,430 in retail sales. They've been averaging about $20,000 a month in sales so far in 2016. Their best month was August 2015, when nearly $36,000 in sales were recorded, according to state figures.
Norris credits a people-first philosophy for being the secret behind their early success.
"We treat them like human beings - we're not here to just collect their money," Norris explained. "We're not here to just serve cannabis. We're here to help you achieve any goal you might have. And I think that goes a long way with most folks."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Pot Store Coming To The Peninsula
Author: Luke Whittaker
Contact: online@dailyastorian.com
Photo Credit: Luke Whittaker
Website: The Daily Astorian
