Moline is celebrating the grand opening today, Friday, Dec. 8, of the second recreational cannabis store in the city: the new Revolution Dispensary just off John Deere Road. The new marijuana store, at 4301 44th Ave., which opened quietly two days ago on Wednesday, Dec. 6, under the Revolution brand, comes less than five months […]
Already a subscriber? Log in
Want to Read More?
Get immediate, unlimited access to all subscriber content and much more.
Learn more in our subscriber FAQ.
- Unparalleled business coverage of the Iowa City / Cedar Rapids corridor.
- Immediate access to subscriber-only content on our website.
- 52 issues per year delivered digitally, in print or both.
- Support locally owned and operated journalism.
Moline is celebrating the grand opening today, Friday, Dec. 8, of the second recreational cannabis store in the city: the new Revolution Dispensary just off John Deere Road.
The new marijuana store, at 4301 44th Ave., which opened quietly two days ago on Wednesday, Dec. 6, under the Revolution brand, comes less than five months after city leaders cut the ribbon on July 28 at Moline’s first recreational marijuana location, Terrace Cannabis, at 2727 Avenue of the Cities.
Moline also isn’t the only one of the Illinois Quad Cities seeking to move into the cannabis dispensary space which now boasts a total of three recreational marijuana stores, including the very first QC dispensary in Milan. Nature’s Treatment of Illinois originally opened at 973 Tech Drive as a medical marijuana dispensary. When Illinois legalized recreational marijuana and began licensing dispensaries, however, NTI began selling recreational cannabis products.
Since recreational marijuana remains illegal in Iowa, other Illinois QC communities – including Rock Island, East Moline, Silvis and Henry County – have been looking for ways to reap the benefits of opening dispensaries in their communities.
Moline’s Revolution Dispensary Assistant Manager Tara Wright told the QCBJ that the new business is eager to welcome the competition.
“Honestly, I'm glad that there’s finally two,” Ms. Wright said of the pair of Moline dispensaries, which are owned by different companies. And there’s room for more, she said, particularly with the Illinois side’s proximity to Iowa, where recreational cannabis has not been legalized.
In fact, she added, the Quad Cities would be better served “if we can get them in all of the surrounding areas.”
When the QCBJ spoke with her a day before Friday’s grand opening celebration, Ms. Wright and the rest of the business’ homegrown Quad Cities staff already were helping customers during what was the second day of Revolution’s soft opening. And they were looking forward to the daylong grand opening that began at 9 a.m. today.
Festivities featured discounts and sales throughout the dispensary, as well as an 11 a.m. ribbon cutting and a food truck in the parking lot, Ms. Wright said.
“It’s a whole big party and we’re super excited,” said the Moline High School graduate. “We've got really good sales going on," she said of the shop that is “the first Revolution Dispensary to open under the Revolution name.”
According to the company, exclusive in-store-only grand opening deals are available on products including Revolution Cannabis flower and Revolution Gummies as well as its popular Revolution Cannabis, Tales & Travels, Spring Lake and Spectra products in online orders placed for convenient in-store pickup.
The inaugural day also includes, Revolution said, the opportunity for attendees to explore an extensive menu featuring high-quality flower and the finest cannabis products in the state.
“Our partnership is dedicated to providing a best-in-class experience for the Quad-City community,“ CEO Charles Bolden said in a news release from the dispensary license-holder Bolden Investments I, LLC. “From product knowledge to customer service, Revolution Dispensary sets a new standard for excellence in the cannabis retail space,” he added.
For example, the new dispensary’s staff is both knowledgeable and boasts deep local roots.
Ms. Wright, for example, learned about the job in her former hometown on LinkedIn where she had been looking for a change after working in children’s retail. Now, she said, “I’m back in town and I’m glad to be here.”
“It’s a fun industry,” Ms. Wright said of the cannabis business taking root in the QC. “It’s definitely new but it’s really been exciting even over the last few days” as staff was busy preparing for the grand opening.
She’s also particularly high on the company’s mission.
According to the dispensary’s parent company, Revolution is focused on wellness and its website sometimes refers to customers as patients. That’s by design, Ms. Wright said.
“We’re not just here to sell weed; we’re here to help people who want to get it and don’t know what they’re looking for,” she said of Revolution’s staff.
“We’re trained to help people who walk in the door who have any sorts of questions and if we can’t help them in the moment we can look it up and ask others and we bounce ideas off each other.”
“We’re thrilled to plant our roots deeper by unveiling our latest Revolution Dispensary location,” the parent company said on its website.
“As always, our commitment to craft cannabis, meticulous cultivation standards, and a limitless love for the plant will be at the forefront. Just as people have always been at the center of our journey, Revolution Dispensary – Moline will show our dedication to the community and steadfast devotion to quality in every product.”
