Before they decided on a store location in Dundas, Mike Hendricks and Kiel Rushton sat and watched the constant flow of traffic move in and out of the Kwik Trip at Hester Streets and Schilling Drive.
They wanted just the right location for their local, high-end retail storefront that sells premium CBD and THC products to the cannabis community.
Hendricks is from small town South Dakota, while Rushton is from small town Iowa. Both men agree that Dundas offered the ideal ingredients they were looking for in their search for the best workable location to open a cannabis-dedicated store.
The store, called Natreum Milltown, opened at 369 Schilling Dr. a few weeks ago. The store sells edibles, tinctures, oils, beverages, balms and salves, all infused with premium CBD and THC. The Dundas store is part of a chain of stores now open in St. Louis Park, North Loop, Lakeville, Prior Lake, Richfield, and coming soon to Northeast Minneapolis and Edina.
“Both Dundas and Northfield are cute, walkable, charming small communities with big town conveniences,” said Rushton. “Both places have a relaxed way of life, which is our vibe.”
Customers new to the store will notice that Natreum Milltown does not stock glass bongs or rolling papers. Instead, Hendricks and Ruston said the focus is on wellness.
“We only sell safe and legal premium products,” said Rushton.
One regular customer, Craig Moxness of Northfield, said he shops at Natreum Milltown to get help controlling his erratic sleep patterns.
“I’ve struggled for many years to get a good night’s sleep,” he said. “Without Natreum’s good night oil that helps me calm my mind and allows me to get a full night sleep, I wouldn’t be as well rested as I am today.”
Moxness said he appreciates that the store’s staff is knowledgeable, hard working and friendly to each and every customer.
Health and wellness focus
“Each of our products are responsibly curated and sourced to meet not only industry standards but also those of our customers,” said Hendricks, store manager. “Our specialists focus on education and knowledge with the customer’s health and wellness in mind.”
Rushton owns the Dundas location with three other investors, as well as the sister store in Lakeville.
Rushton and Hendricks share a unique perspective of the cannabis business, since they both come from a law enforcement background.
“We have both found that all of the cannabinoids, not just THC, have really helped us heal from repeated exposure to trauma,” said Hendricks.
The two met years ago when Rushton was a Hennepin County patrol officer and later a detective, while Hendricks was a crime scene investigator for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.
“All we were told about cannabis back then was wrong,” said Rushton. “Cannabis is less socially harmful than alcohol when used for medicinal purposes.”
Recent medical studies show that cannabis products can help those who suffer from seizures, cancer, glaucoma, post traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder and autism spectrum disorder.
Both men said their previous jobs in law enforcement were dangerous, stressful and anxiety producing.
“Most people with a gun and a badge suffer from some kind of PTSD,” said Hendricks. “We never really get rid of the visual trauma despite trying to numb the memories.”
They said they have each given up drinking alcohol, which Rushton called poison, and they now use a range of THC products to relax, be social and to sleep.
“THC and CBD products enable people to take the edge off while still keeping their wits about them,” said Rushton. “There are no hangovers and no angry or violent outcomes.”
While both men admitted they were not doctors or pharmacists, they both have done extensive research into their products, whether a topical location for muscle aches or an anti-inflammatory beverage, or a good day or goodnight gummy — and they swear by the benefits.
“I feel good, not high,” said Hendricks. “My mood elevates. I’m not anxious or depressed.”
Rushton, along with fellow owners Lisa Owen, Nate Boyer and Jeffrey Gilchrist, would like to eventually turn the back half of the store into a community event space. Hendricks said the idea would be to host some educational forums, a cribbage night or a cooking demonstration.
“We want to continue to help people live better every day,” said Hendricks.
Still a stigma
The owners say that the most pressing current challenge is dealing with a stigma that state rules actually help to perpetuate.
“Our biggest competition now is the government with regulations, laws and taxes,” Hendricks said. Most state governments, including Minnesota, add a flat 10% tax on top of each cannabis product sale.
For example, Hendricks said a 12-pack of beer generally costs $12.99, while a single can of THC-infused beverage costs $9.99.
Another barrier, he explained, is the stigma that many community members still attach to cannabis products. Some people still believe today’s THC and CBD products haven’t changed from the stinky marijuana joints that were connected to images of the Vietnam War, hippies and the counterculture movement from a half-century ago.
“Someday, Minnesota will be just like California and Colorado in how the public regards cannabis products,” Rushton explained. “By then, people will consider stopping at a cannabis store just like they would the liquor store or the grocery store.”
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