Serving the Community in a Pandemic
By Erin Kelly-Allshouse
Ascend into the welcoming embrace of Treehouse — a locally owned and operated cannabis dispensary that opened in Soquel on Jan. 1, 2018, when Prop. 64 took effect.
Treehouse pivoted to curbside service in March in response to restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. • Photo Credit: Erin Kelly-Allshouse
Unlike a fort from our childhood, this Treehouse is open to only to those over 21 years-of-age for obvious reasons.
Treehouse is a certified Green Business, and certified by Envirocann, a third-party certifier in Santa Cruz. Treehouse also is part of Think Local First, and the Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce.
Treehouse is locally owned and operated in part by founders Bryce Berryessa and Kyle Giorchino. The business employs more than 20 people.
“We built our dispensary on the foundation that “cannabis creates community,” said Marketing Director and Assistant General Manager Jenna Gallant.
“We measure our excellence by the service and professionalism we provide to our customers, the effectiveness of our staff, the innovations and leadership we bring to the cannabis industry, and the high ethical standards that we maintain,” she added.
From topicals and tinctures to edibles, flower and THC- and CBD-infused foods, the myriad of products available are of high quality and fun to explore in an aesthetic and bright environment. Budtenders are on hand to help customers out with answers to all their questions.
During the Pandemic
“Our primary goal regarding COVID-19 is and has always been the health and safety of our staff and customers,” Gallant said. “We were able to pivot quickly in early March to curbside service only, which enables our budtenders to socially distance while helping our members get what they need.”
Staff at Treehouse take a break outside the store, which is located in Soquel. • Photo Credit: Erin Kelly-Allshouse
Gallant said Treehouse has maintained policies since March of regular sanitization of high-touch surfaces; staff and members wearing masks and social distancing, and monitoring temperatures of staff, cannabis vendors and artists entering the building.
“Cannabis is an essential business and we safely provide what many folks need to get through their days, especially with the added anxieties of a global pandemic,” Gallant said. “All of this means we are able to provide the safest personalized cannabis service in Santa Cruz, possibly in the Bay Area. By operating in this manner, we have been able to retain our entire staff throughout the crisis.”
Gallant said cannabis businesses have no government-funded financial safety net at a county, state or federal level and are excluded from Small Business Administration or economic disaster loans.
What sets this dispensary apart, Gallant said, is that over the past few years, Treehouse has created an ongoing education program for staff, ensuring that members get the most knowledgeable service possible.
“We have a very consistent and rigorous education program for employees which allows for more knowledgeable interactions between our budtenders and members,” she said. “This results in our members receiving the care they need and not just an empty sales pitch.”
The training prepares the staff for careers in the growing cannabis industry, Gallant said, if that is something they wish to pursue.
Treehouse has artist residencies for up to three months at a time. Pre-Covid-19, local artists hung their work on the walls to sell.
“Post-Covid,” Gallant said, “we will continue to host community events in our space for Santa Cruz First Fridays, our THCA Days (Treehouse Happy Customer Appreciation Days) and special events that help give exposure to local artists, artisans, and musicians.”
Gallant said the attention is always on the needs of the community.
“We involve local community members on every level of our business,” she said. “Our apparel makers (Natural Motions Print Shop), flyer printers (MPress), event food (San Marcos Charquito Tacos y Tortas, Pretty Good Advice, Black Point Market, Melinda’s GF Bakery, Tacos Morenos), plumber (Expert Plumbing), interior design elements (Mario Guizar, SolHive), cleaning supplies (Black Point Market, Deluxe Foods), etc.”
Currently, all profits from Treehouse apparel sales through the end of August are being donated to the Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit based in Denver. The Last Prisoner Project works to reduce jail and prison sentences for cannabis crimes and provides support to the prison population, which is high-risk for COVID-19.
“We strive to do everything we can to help where we can,” Gallant said. “We have publicly stated that we stand in solidarity with BIPOC communities and Black Lives Matter. We commit to making the change necessary to create systems that are equitable for everyone, both in and out of our industry. We are committed to fighting for equity in our industry, our community, and the world in any way we can,” said Gallant.
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Current hours (for the foreseeable future): 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Masks must be worn, and social distancing is observed.
Curbside Service: Come by and park your car in the lot. Budtenders will come to you.
Order Online: www.ourtreehouse.io, and go through our drive-thru for payment and pickup.
3651 Soquel Drive, Soquel, CA 95073
License Number: C10-0000105-LIC