Inside the first cannabis storefront to open in Port Huron

The wait is over as Port Huron’s first marijuana shop opened up this week.

The storefront for JARS Cannabis at Huron Avenue and Quay Street downtown kicked things off, bringing an end to a years-long wait for adult-use marijuana in town after the city first initiated setting rules for cannabis businesses five years ago.

By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, amid its second day open, JARS’ waiting room off Quay had quickly grown from a handful of customers to a small crowd waiting to visit the sales floor.

Walking in, customers are greeted by security and a front desk attendant who signs them in before being escorted back to consider a purchase — be it for pre-rolls, flower, edibles, and more. That individual attention, JARS representatives said, was meant to help curate customers’ experience.

“Lots of people are still new to cannabis, right? And even though some people, like staff that we have in store, are what we call veterans to weed … there’s still people who are new to it and people who are scared of it and scared of dispensaries,” said Marcel Kattula, director of operations for JARS. “That’s why we give a one-on-one service to where we have someone that’s going to walk people through and show them how to consume properly.”

The 3,500-square-foot Port Huron JARS location, 404 Quay St., sits on the end of a developing entertainment block, neighboring Bootlegger’s Axe Co and Wings Etc.

It's open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, marking both the 38th JARS location nationwide. Although the first to open locally, it’s one of multiple operators originally approved for provisional licensure by the city three years ago — the opening process stymied by litigation — and one of four that have received special use permission under city zoning laws within the last year.

For more information, visit www.shopJARS.com.

What sort of cannabis products are available?

Walking on to the sales floor — and past a door accessible via a passcode — General Manager Vince Yousif pointed to the sections of products on display around the room.

First was the pre-roll section. Then, there were edibles, including baked goods and gummies, followed by tinctures for those “who can’t partake in edibles for the sugar content, or because of lung issues, they can’t smoke.”

There was also a vape section and space for other products like drinks or tea.

And at the end of the room was a deli-style station for cannabis buds on display that can be measured for purchase from a gram up to an ounce at a time.

“Essentially, we just weigh out whatever the customer would like,” Yousif said. “They can choose all the way from a gram up to an ounce — whatever they like. So, they get that full experience to go ahead and smell each one.”

In the store, so far, Kattula said much of the sales have appeared to be flower-driven

“And that’s normal for us. Because we always have good flower in stock, and it’s always fresh,” he said. “It’s what we really pride ourselves on. … That seems like that’s what the city of Port Huron likes.”

Then, around the corner, another entrance off Huron leads to JARS’ express pickup window, where customers who order online can quickly get their product.

“It’s not busy right now,” Kattula said. “But what we’ve seen at other stores is it jumps to be 30% of our business. Right in the beginning, it’s always slower. It usually starts at about 15%.”

How much does everything cost?

Although some local residents have shared feedback about the cost being more expensive than anticipated since JARS opened on social media, Kattula said they’re competitive.

Yousif said, “If not, we price match,” adding price sheets were available on the counter to help shoppers.

As an example, Kattula said pre-rolls could be purchased “as cheap as five bucks,” or $3 on a deal, and upwards of $60 “for an eighth if you want to ball out and (get) some cool packaging with some phenomenal flower.”

“Look at the store, it’s not all fabulous, right? There’s no chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. But it’s also not ugly at the same time,” Kattula said. “It’s clean, right? And the purpose of that is so that someone with a million dollars in their pocket or (with) a couple of bucks … can walk in and feel comfortable.”

What's been the response so far?

Yousif said the response from Port Huron and the city had been positive thus far, adding they’ve had other businesses or smoke shop owners visit their showroom. He also credited the larger business community and the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce.

On Tuesday, plenty of customers were asking questions and walking out with their purchases tucked neatly inside JARS bags.

Resident Casey VanCamp was waiting for marijuana to be weighed when he said, “I was pretty excited when they started opening. I’ve been here twice since they’ve been open.”

He’d been forwarded a Facebook post about JARS opening.

Rick and Donna Harrington, of Port Huron, also found out about it online.

Rick Harrington said he was browsing JARS online, signed in already as a member, when he figured it out. He grows his own marijuana and typically shops for vape cartridges and edibles.

“It said you guys were open, and I’m like, ‘No!’ because I’ve been waiting for weeks and months,” he said. “… So, we came in to check it out. We’ve been going to Joyology in Memphis, so this saves us gas and everything else, and I was going to New Baltimore before that.”

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Inside the first cannabis storefront to open in Port Huron