Just 12 miles from the Santa Cruz boardwalk and 5 miles from the gravity-defying Mystery Spot, Treehouse isn’t hard to find. It’s emblazoned with eye-catching murals by artists Augie Wk, Jessica Carmen, GATS and BB Bastidas.
Treehouse opened its doors on January 1, 2018, at the start of adult-use Cannabis sales. Owners Bryce Barryessa and Kyle Girochino, who had previously operated a shop as owner and general manager, wanted this new endeavor to have a name that made people feel comfortable hanging out. Jenna Gallant, chief operating officer, told the California Leaf that “they wanted to create a place of community, and the way to go about that is to create a vibe of nostalgia, comfort and creativity.” Gallant says the space and staff have embraced the identity over the years with tons of plants and wood as well as a centralized sales floor.
This store is one of the only places in California where you can order right from your car. The state famously outlawed drive-thru pot shops, but Gallant explains the concept was something the owners had in mind from the very beginning. “The parking lot is U-shaped, and the owner dreamed about one, so he applied for a permit back in 2018 before the regulations,” Gallant said. In 2020, when dispensaries were declared essential businesses, Treehouse was able to open a roll-up door. Then, through discussions with the local government, they were able to create a proper drive-thru, though they did need to get special permission from Santa Cruz County. “It’s been a really great way to serve our community, especially people who can’t get out of their cars and easily walk through the parking lot into the store,” Gallant said.
As if giant murals and a drive-thru weren’t enough reasons to stop by, the store also hosts community events and acoustic musical performances, and it houses an art gallery. AJ Culp, engagement manager, says the gallery rotates through four different artists every three months, offering them a space without taking any percentage from the sale of their work. Culp says, so far, the dispensary has worked with over 80 painters, ceramists, glassblowers, illustrators and artists of many other disciplines to show people that anything can be Cannabis art if the artist connects to their work through the plant. Culp often gets submissions through social media, but says most of their exhibitors get discovered just by being around Santa Cruz County’s thriving and diverse art scene.
Community is massively important to Treehouse. It currently operates as the hub for the Wo/Men’s Alliance for Medical Marijuana compassion program, which helps source quality medicine for around 95 patients with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. An old-school dispensary with modern amenities, Treehouse even offers every shopper a personal consultation experience. Customers can talk to a staff member who can offer suggestions or help find a product, which is probably why one online reviewer wrote, “Treehouse is setting the standard for what a real community-centered dispensary should feel like.”
