River City is a retail Cannabis dispensary established in the community of Merlin, Oregon. Coinciding with the statewide legalization of recreational Cannabis, the business first opened its doors in August 2015 and kicked off public sales in the state just two months later. Described as small but a force to be reckoned with, this privately owned, woman-run dispensary is one of four stores within the overarching Budz Brand.
Given Southern Oregon’s reputation for producing some of the best flower and concentrates in the entire world, it’s no surprise that River City keeps its shelves flowing with a sizable selection of fresh, accessible products. The shop sells a broad range of items from $12 ounces to top-shelf hash rosin and just about everything in between. The goal is to provide an assortment of options at different price points and create a more inclusive experience for patrons of all kinds. To that end, Budz has products grown by its own farms available in-store, allowing some astounding deals, including $1 pre-rolls and individual grams of flower. Buddies Brand and Saturn Extracts collaborations, made with inputs from Budz’s in-house farms, can also be purchased at a slightly reduced cost compared to other concentrates on similar tiers.
The selection of alternative cannabinoid products seems to be an important focus for River City given the extensive collection of CBD, CBG, CBN and other broad-spectrum-based commodities. General Manager Bianca Willis notes that she makes it a point to carry non-THC products: “Many customers need pain relief, relaxation, sleep or a mood boost but may not want the psychoactive component for whatever reason. We carry things like edibles, bath salts, tinctures and even CBD pre-rolls to meet different needs.”
When it comes to sales, River City offers a wide variety of happy hours, deal days and special offers. One of the most unique discounts is their first responder benefit, which applies to anyone providing emergency response services. Designed as a way to give back to those who sacrifice for the community, the discount has found its usage increasing in tandem with the prevalence of wildfires in Southern Oregon. It turns out even firefighters need to kick back and relax with a joint after a long day, so it’s heartening to see River City finding avenues to provide support.
The model for budtenders at River City is one of approachability and genuineness. It’s clear in interacting with staff onsite that there is a high degree of mutual respect given to any person who walks through the door.
“No one wants to be talked at, they want to be talked to,” Bianca explains. “We want the customers spending $2 to feel just as special and heard as the customers spending $200. Dispensary retail is inherently different from other types of commerce, and it’s really important for the customer to feel some level of trust that they will leave the store with a specific experience.”
