Small dispensary embraces its community roots
By Patrick Wagner
DENVER — As companies expand into new territories, they often begin to lose touch with their roots and the communities that helped launch their business. Nick Paul and Luke Ramirez decided they wanted to avoid that path for Walking Raven, the dispensary they own and operate on Denver’s Green Mile.
Jessica Knight, marketing director for Walking Raven, said the company’s decision to remain grounded was one of the best things it could have done. Walking Raven has focused on community outreach events, such as inviting the public to “hit the green” for its annual Raven Charity Open golf tournament where proceeds go directly to the Denver Colorado AIDS Project. The company also contributes to Denver’s Green Team and supports the Harm Reduction Action Center.
Paul and Ramirez have decided to forego any lavish renovations to the 400-square-foot dispensary. They’ve been expanding their behind-the-scenes grow operations for the purpose of “keeping our customers happy and keeping our store stocked and full,” Knight said.
That project includes remodeling Walking Raven’s two warehouse grow facilities, the first of which has been home to Paul’s grow since he first became a licensed caregiver in 2002.
“It’s going to be at least double in size compared to the one warehouse we have right now,” Knight said. “We’re talking about putting a greenhouse on top of that warehouse.”
The dispensary was named after Paul’s relative, Blue Raven, and the retail space pays homage to Paul’s Native American heritage. Inside and outside the store there are subtle cues to be found along the walls and on the shelves.
Walking Raven sits on a mile-long strip of South Broadway in Denver nicknamed the “Green Mile” or “Broadsterdam.” Walking Raven is one of the many dispensaries that makes up the highest concentration of cannabis shops in Colorado. Knight said current zoning restrictions would never allow so many dispensaries to be located in the same relatively small space.
“We have a lot of the tourists get off the plane and say, ‘We are going to Broadsterdam. We are going to where we can go to 20 dispensaries at once,’” she said.
“We’ve been here for six years and we have a reputation for premium-grade flower,” Knight said. “You can shop wherever you want. But if you hear that a pizza place has the best pizza, you’ll go there and you might pass three other pizza places on the way.”