Marijuana dispensaries are racing to be the first to open in Grover Beach.
Earlier this year, the city council gave the green light for a total of four retailers and one manufacturer to start business.
Managers at 805 Beach Breaks said in March they were hoping to be open for business by 4/20, but that day has come and gone and they’re still not open.
The parking lot, which is now in the works, has taken longer than managers expected. Otherwise, most of the building is nearly ready for business.
"We’re really excited about the progress, this really is a project that should have taken six months. We got it done in about 60 days," said 805 Beach Break’s general manager Dan Fried.
"When you come into our space, you’re going to pass your ID and recommendation to our receptionist that will check, verify, and enter you into our system," Fried said, motioning towards the entrance of the retail space.
The company will have 100 different products. The retail space is filled with touchscreen tablets that recognize and provide product details for consumers.
"You’ll learn about the aroma, the flavor, different attributes of the product," Fried said.
Managers also plan to have consultants on hand for customers.
The building, Fried says, is still waiting on some finishing touches.
Once in operation, Beach Breaks will have dozens of security cameras and security guards patrolling the building.
Some neighbors are concerned about future unwanted traffic, so they invested in security cameras for their home.
Others think it’s too soon to tell what the business boom will do for the community.
"Personally, I’m not too concerned, but again, nothing has happened yet either. We’re kind of waiting to see how it’s going to play out," said Joe Thorne, a Grover Beach resident.
