San Francisco visitors and locals flock to Flore, an intimate dispensary in the Castro District, for its family vibes and personalized service. Flore’s success hinges on assistant general manager and event coordinator Espie Reinosa (@boss_e415), who can be found on the sales floor educating customers.
Unlike a corporate chain, Flore in the Castro embodies the personality of its founder, Terrance Alan, the late Cannabis leader. Alan was a grower for Dennis Peron, who co-authored Proposition 215 in 1996.
South San Francisco resident Reinosa, 36, said she misses Alan and channels his energy and openness at work.
“I just love the fact that he’s so open-armed, and that makes me want to be friends with everybody,” she said. “We’re almost like the ‘Cheers’ of the Castro. Everybody knows us. We know our customers, and everyone just has fun when they come in.”
If Flore is “Cheers,” that makes Reinosa the bartender, Sam.
She is a San Francisco native and has smoked Cannabis since she was 18. She learned about the plant’s medicinal properties in her 20s.
Websites like Leafly and brand reps added to her knowledge as she rose from budtender in 2017 to general manager of the pioneering SPARC dispensary. She became a brand rep before landing at Flore in 2024.
“It’s just been a dream,” Reinosa said of working at the proudly queer shop.
The best question to ask her is, “What’s fresh?” (Ask for Humboldt outdoor from Ladybug Farms.) “What has the highest THC?” is the worst question for her.
“Having the percentage is nice, but you also want to look into other factors,” she said.
Reinosa loves loading her Dr. Dabber Switch² with Moroccan Peaches and Whitethorn Rose.
She is most interested in the future of rare medical cannabinoids like cannabichromene, aka CBC. Her daughter’s name is Myrcene.
Reinosa also loves throwing events. On tap is an April 18 Errl Hill and Black Bear Farms party on Flore’s backyard patio.
“Events are going to be a big part of Cannabis,” she said. “That’s where I really want to focus and help.”
When asked what advice she’d give to aspiring budtenders, Reinosa said, “Get knowledgeable. Learn about terpenes and cannabinoids, and apply at all shops, not just your favorite one.”
