Preserving HISTORY

As the cannabis industry grows, more dispensaries are popping up across the state. However, to open a store, a structure needs to be built, an existing one needs to be renovated or a demolition process must take place in order to construct a new facility from scratch.

Preserving a building’s history while filling it with the future –cannabis – is Bud’s Goods & Provisions.

Bud’s Goods opened its first location in Worcester during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in November 2020. During that time and still to this day, Bud’s Goods CEO Alex Mazin said finding a location was the biggest hurdle that separated many from being in the industry to those who could not enter the industry.

As a Worcester native, Mazin thought it would only be right to open a store in the city he was born and raised. “If the city is going to make choices on who to give these [dispensaries] to, it should be to those that grew up in the city and want to give back to the city,” he said.

Mazin shared that Worcester “made it easy” and provided individuals with a colored map on the areas zoned for cannabis. Every day, he would drive along those routes until he came across a location in the north part of the city. Through conversations with local realtors and a little bit of luck, Mazin was able to open his first dispensary in the former Gold Star Diner.

“From there, everything came together,” Mazin said.

While others were out there looking to obtain licenses and securing any space available to begin operations, Mazin said he was more selective on choosing a location that felt “normal.”

When Bud’s Goods moved into the building on West Boylston Street, everything was gutted and renovated, although the aesthetic of the building’s history was left untouched. “This was catered to the brand Bud’s Goods is trying to build: the New England lifestyle experience,” Mazin said.

The dispensary’s color scheme – like the American Flag – plays into the “nostalgia of the New Englander or patriot,” although Buds’ utilizes dark blue, brick red and a cream color, shared Mazin.

He went on to say that the piece of real estate is deemed a historical site by the city of Worcester. Prior to the diner, it was one of the first food markets in the city.

When the building was purchased, Mazin said that it was in rough shape. Before opening the dispensary, a new parking lot was created, the facade of the structure was restored, among other improvements. Despite those changes, he said, “We still tried to embody and capture what the building used to be from a business operations standpoint.”

When customers visit the Worcester location, Mazin said the experience is similar to an old school diner, with a big, long bar counter.

Along with Buds’ original location, two other dispensaries opened in Abington (May 2021) and Watertown (June 2022). Both stores encompass a unique theme, although they stick to an “overarching brand and vision” of paying homage to New England, said Mazin.

In Abington, the store aims to capture the theme of an old school movie theater. Mazin explained that he still wants to capture themes from the 1960s and 70s – keeping it “very Americana” – but adding another piece of it.

In Watertown, Mazin said, “What makes it unique from a real estate standpoint is that it’s the only dispensary in Massachusetts that’s in the same building as residential apartments.” Bud’s Goods is located on the first floor, with four apartment floors above.

“When we thought of that theme, it was still Americana, [19]50s, 60s, 70s era, but it’s designed to be Bud’s house,” shared Mazin.

“You get your ID checked in the porch [then] you walk into the kitchen where we feature all of the edibles and consumables. From the kitchen you walk into the library where we feature all of the flower and pre-rolls. Off to the side there’s the closet where we feature all of our merchandise and apparel, and then ahead of you is the great room where we complete your transactions,” Mazin said.

“It’s a much more subversive experience,” he added.

As this industry is still young and as an entrepreneur in this space, Mazin said he must push the boundary.

In Massachusetts, only three operating stores are allowed. However, Mazin noted that Bud’s Goods is the only three store operators in the state that does not grow their own product. “Because we don’t grow cannabis, our job is really to curate cannabis, and we’re not biased toward any flower that we grow. Most or many operators grow their own product and so they’re going to try to inherently sell you that product,” he shared.

For example, you may be visiting a dispensary that is limiting your options and quality because they are pushing their brand, whereas Bud’s Goods does the opposite. Mazin said his team visits every grow in the state to review the quality and ensure it meets their price point standards. Additionally, he said they try to curate what they think are some of the best products in the industry.

Bud’s Goods retails a variety of products including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, concentrates, tinctures, topicals and more.

The way Buds’ lays out its products and sub brands are one way the dispensary differs from others, shared Mazin. He added that the in-store experience, brand partnerships and prices – among other reasons – make Bud’s Goods stand out.

“I’m really adamant with my team that there are many components to be a really good store and we do the best we can in all aspects,” Mazin said. “Every decision I make is with the consumer first and foremost in mind.”

For additional information on Bud’s Goods, visit https://budsgoods.com

BY LAUREN LeBEL PHOTO ISTOCK