San Bruno to open 1st cannabis dispensary

In a ribbon-cutting speech, Mayor Rico Medina lauded the new store’s benefits, including leasing the formerly-vacant lot, the use of union labor, and the work Embarc has put in to ensure the new storefront would benefit, not negatively impact, the community.

He also touched briefly on the sometimes-rocky history of the project — in January 2023, the City Council approved an amendment to reduce the number of cannabis retail stores allowed in the city from three to one and increase its distribution centers from one to two. As a way to protect minors, the City Council decided to restrict possible cannabis locations from The Shops at Tanforan and a large portion of San Mateo Avenue, the city’s downtown.

“If we’re going to do it, you gotta do it right, because there may not be a second chance in a community,” Medina said. “People remember when things go wrong.”

The business will have a local owner in Bobby Petrini, a longtime San Bruno resident.

“My grandparents and great-uncle started a business of grocery services here 50-plus years ago, so it’s a total full circle moment to be part owner and operator of another business here in San Bruno, a small community that I grew up in and love so much,” he said.

Petrini also emphasized Embarc’s plans to allocate 1% of the gross receipts to the city for the lifetime of the business. In addition, the business has formed a community advisory board that has eight community members to serve and manage the community benefit money the city receives.

The San Bruno location is one of 16 Embarc storefronts across the state, Lauren Carpenter, CEO and co-founder, said. The business also has a location in nearby Redwood City, the first cannabis dispensary to open there as well.

“The reception from that community made us really excited about other nearby communities,” she said. “We also noticed a lot of our customers were coming from San Bruno, so we saw that this is a community where folks are looking.”

Nearly two years ago, Embarc began a listening tour both with residents who were excited about the prospect of a recreational cannabis storefront and those who were apprehensive. Building on its community-minded approach, Embarc is committed to fulfilling its promises, Carpenter said.

“All eyes are on us when you’re the first — which was the same in Redwood City — but particularly when you’re the only [dispensary], when the community thinks of cannabis, they think of you,” she said. “It’s always important that we uphold community values and fulfill our promises.”

Embarc will be a positive development for San Bruno, Medina said.

“We will make San Bruno proud, and together, we will embark into the future,” he said.

The dispensary, located at 120 El Camino Real, will hold its grand opening this weekend, Nov. 16 and 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with cannabis brands, vendors and a DJ. The first 100 customers both days will receive a doorbuster bag with around $100 of merchandise with any $25 purchase. A variety of brands will also be 30% off.

Embarc’s normal hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.