Retail cannabis dispensary Embarc is expanding to its second location in Fresno, as well as opening up a store in Madera.
Both stores held a soft opening on Wednesday and will have grand openings this weekend.
The big picture: Embarc opened its first store in Fresno two years ago on the southwest corner of Blackstone and Gettysburg Avenues and is expanding to its second storefront on the northwest corner of Shaw and West Avenues.
- Embarc will continue to donate one percent of all sales to support the local community in Fresno.
- “Since introducing cannabis to Fresno with our first store on Blackstone, we’ve witnessed the transformative impact cannabis can have within people’s lives and within the community,” said Embarc CEO Lauren Carpenter. “As we open our new location, we’re doing more than just growing; we’re increasing access to quality cannabis, supporting the local economy by hiring directly from within the community and continuing to give back through ongoing financial reinvestment. Embarc Shaw reinforces our commitment to and gratitude for the Fresno community who warmly welcomed us back in 2022.”
Expanding to Madera: Not only will this be Embarc’s third dispensary in the Central Valley and 15th in the state, but it will be the first retail cannabis dispensary to open in Madera.
- The company will also donate one percent of its sales in Madera to support local initiatives.
- The dispensary will be located at 530 E. Yosemite Ave.
- Madera native Will Oliver is the co-owner of the Madera dispensary.
- “I’m proud to join forces with Embarc and be part of Madera’s historic step towards embracing cannabis,” Oliver said. “We’re here to offer safe cannabis access, change misconceptions, and benefit our local economy. Together, we aim to show how cannabis can positively impact our community.”
Fresno County sales lag behind state: While it remains to be seen how Madera County’s upstart legal cannabis industry fares, sales throughout Fresno County are tracking lower than much of the state on a per capita basis.
- Fresno County reported close to $78 million in legal cannabis sales in 2023, but the per capita sales in the fourth quarter of last year were $20.1, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
- Only Kern County ranked lower in the Central Valley than Fresno County, at $5.04, while San Joaquin County was closely ahead at $21.96.
- Stanislaus County led all Valley counties at $56.21, followed by Tulare County at $31.24 and Merced County at $30.90.
- Fresno County ranked behind Califonria’s most populated areas on a per capita basis in the fourth quarter of last year. Los Angeles County was at $32.68, Orange County was at $21.85, Sacramento County was at $42.75, San Diego County was at $39.30, Santa Clara County was at $23 and San Francisco County was at $60.05.
