FORSYTH, Ill. (WAND) — The long-awaited Forsyth cannabis dispensary, Bud & Rita's, which was approved in January, is getting ready to open next week.
Bud & Rita's General Manager Nicole Trueblood said they are eager to open their doors to the public and engage with the community.
"If you have no knowledge of cannabis, we're going to walk you through it. And if you've got years of experience, we're going to help you find something new and discover something new," Trueblood said.
The Village of Forsyth has estimated the first year of tax revenue from Bud & Rita's to be $500,000, which they will devote to new projects in the community. In addition to bringing more business to the community, the dispensary is also partnering with local businesses to mutually benefit.
"You bring in a receipt from those local businesses, you get a percentage or a 5% off here in the store, which is actually stackable. So we're partnering with local businesses, helping with that economic revitalization," Trueblood said.
Bud & Rita's also has a rewards program, the Budrista Club. Members will automatically be entered into the Daily Potluck. Every day, a number is drawn at random, and the customer who corresponds with that number gets loyalty points equal to their purchase.
"Let's say you come in today, it's lucky 30, you're customer 30," Trueblood said. "If your order was $100, the next time you shop, you will have $100 worth of loyalty points loaded into your account for you to spend."
The business is hoping to host a soft open on Monday, but is waiting on final details from METRC, a seed-to-sale tracking system that recently started a partnership with the state of Illinois to fulfill orders.
There will be a grand opening scheduled for Sept. 20, and the public is encouraged to attend.
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