By opening its doors in Guadalupe, Root One became the first cannabis dispensary to serve the Santa Maria Valley.
“It’s been great to see this multiyear mission come to fruition and for us to be so welcomed by the community, which has been the best part so far,” said Austen Connella, the owner and CEO of Root One. “We have been welcome with open arms by neighbors and other businesses, and especially the city.”
Root One falls under the SLO Cal Roots family, which operates SLO and Grover Beach dispensaries and grows on a farm just off Highway 166 near Santa Maria. Connella’s been a local cannabis grower for medical patients for the past 20 years, and SLO Cal Roots became one of the first licensed recreational farms in SLO County, he said.
After several years of going through the planning process, Root One celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 19 with slushies, Santa Maria-style barbecue, and several discounts on items. While the grand opening has passed, Root One still has daily sales on products and brands, and first-time customers can get an eighth for $1.
“If you live in Santa Maria, we are much closer than Lompoc. We are locally owned and community driven, and we have a great selection and great prices,” Connella said.
The Guadalupe City Council approved SLO Cal Roots’ application for one of the city’s two permit spots in September 2022. Unlike the Grover Beach and SLO sites, Guadalupe doesn’t have a formal cannabis tax, rather it has a community benefit agreement between the dispensaries and the city. With project approval, SLO Cal Roots pledged 6 percent of its retail sales to Guadalupe’s general fund and it pledged to donate 1.5 percent of gross sales to local nonprofits.
“Those are there to ensure the community really sees the tangible benefits of having cannabis there,” Connella said. “Those are kind of the two big financial contributions we have committed to, but we have other programs as well.”
The financial commitment started once the doors opened, and the team is keeping track of its contributions as it works out reporting sales with the city, he said.
“We also have a local hiring commitment, so we’ve hired 80 percent local residents,” Connella said, adding that there’s 14 people on staff now and it may grow to 18 or 19 employees in the future.
Root One will complete at least 50 community service hours each month, and the company will pay employees to volunteer their time with local nonprofits. Alongside that, Root One offers discounted products for medical patients, veterans, and seniors.
“We really see Root One as a true catalyst for the economic and community activities in Guadalupe—[enhancing] local businesses by drawing in more visitors who will shop and dine in Guadalupe,” Connella said.
Customers must be 21 or older. Visit slocalroots.com to see the store’s hours, product menu, and discounts.
Highlights:
• The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department announced the grand opening of a new playground at Fletcher Park (2200 South College Dr.). The forest-themed playground offers children a fun and imaginative space designed to inspire active outdoor play. It includes a log climber, swings, a twisting slide, and a giant frog statue—Fletcher Frog. The park is named in honor of Harrell and Betty Fletcher, who both contributed to the city. Harrell, a former business owner and long-standing chamber of commerce member, and Betty, known for her community involvement, made a lasting impact on Santa Maria. The Santa Maria City Council officially renamed the park in 2004 as a tribute to their commitment to the community. Direct questions to the Recreation and Parks Department at (805) 925-0951, Ext 2260, or to rpinfo@cityofsantamaria.org.
• The Allan Hancock College Dance Program is presenting its Dimensions in Dance at the Boyd Concert Hall (800 S. College Dr.) from Nov. 7 to 9. This dynamic showcase will feature choreography from both students and faculty in contemporary, hip-hop, Bollywood, musical theater, and salsa. General Admission costs $15, or families can purchase the family bundle package to buy four or more tickets for $10 each. Learn more and buy tickets at www.hancockcollege.edu/finearts/performances.php.
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 7-17, 2024.