TJ's on Powell and Arcanna combine!
What Happened and Why?
TJ’s and Arcanna have both been known as Portland’s “Industry stores,” each for their own reasons. And now the best of both is together in one place.
We heard that Arcanna was closing and thought, “Holy crap… why??? People love them!
(For anyone who didn’t already know, Arcanna became known for their 40% off Cannabis Industry Workers discount menu.)
We gave the owner a call, and when we heard about the unfortune circumstances, we thought, “Wow that’s messed up… Is there something we can do here?”
And there was – we could make sure Portland doesn’t lose access to the Arcanna industry menu.
So with their blessing, we brought over Arcanna’s Industry Menu, and in doing so, added a bunch of new brands to our existing store.
Then came the decision about the name. At first we were going to entirely rename the store Arcanna. And then we thought, “Well, what we’re really doing here is combing the best of both – so let’s represent that.”
ARCANNA at TJ’s.
While our name has changed, what you love hasn't.
What makes an “Industry Store” great is ACCESS. Not just to special discounts, but also to variety, special drops, and premium brands.
So if you’re a TJ’s customer and are thinking “Oh no what does this mean for me…” it mostly means that you’ll have access to more brands, and, if you’re a Cannabis Industry Worker, your discount goes up from 20% to 40%. (Sweet)
We know all change is hard. We’re doing everything we can to make decisions that serve both communities well.
And we’re committed to doing it transparently. If you’re confused or concerned about something, just ask us.
Thank you for supporting us through this transition!
We are committed to serving the new, expanded community we’ll all be building together with our whole hearts.
For the love of cannabis,
– Amber & Brian
You've got questions, We've got answers:
Q: When did the change officially happen?
A: Arcanna’s last day open at their current location was January 17th. TJ’s on Powell opened as “Arcanna at TJ’s” on January 18th.
Q: Are all TJ's locations changing?
A: No, only the Portland store is changing to “Arcanna at TJ’s.” Our Eugene location, TJ’s on Willamette, will stay the same for now.
Q: Why & How did this happen?
A: When we heard Arcanna was closing, we immediately called them to find out why. Ownership on both sides talked and agreed that it was really sad to see Portland losing their Industry Store over landlord issues when they otherwise had a store everyone loved. We agreed to bring Arcanna’s Industry Menu over to our store so this didn’t happen.
Q: Was this a sale? Did TJ’s buy Arcanna?
A: No. Arcanna was not for sale, they were just being forced to close down for pretty unfair and unfortunate reasons. That’s why we say we “adopted” them.
Q: Will you still carry the same brands/products I buy now?
A: Yes. If you’re an Arcanna customer, we brought in any brands that TJ’s didn’t currently carry that Arcanna did.
Likewise, TJ’s carries many brands that Arcanna did not (Like our house brand, Portal Cannabis, and Evan’s Creek.)
No brands will be going away! Everyone will still have access to all the products you love – and more!
Q: Will every product qualify for the 40% off OLCC Cannabis Industry discount?
A: So far, we’ve brought over Arcanna’s existing menu, and our goal is to add more brands to it over time as more of our current suppliers work with us to make this possible. There are 4 brands that are on a special 30% off menu because TJ’s prices on these started out WAYYY lower than Arcanna’s pricing. So at 30% off, you’re actually STILL getting a BETTER deal on most products than at Arcanna’s 40% off.
Let’s take a few examples:
Bose’s Nose 1g Live Rosin – Arcanna’s 40% = $36, and 30% off TJ’s price comes to just $33.83.
Focus North 2g Rosin – Arcanna’s 40% off = $72, and 30% off TJ’s price comes to just $63.
TJ’s also currently carries many other brands that Arcanna did not, and we’ve always had a 20% OLCC discount on all brands in store.
Our plan is to recruit more producers to join the 40% off menu, but this will take time.
So if you’re coming from Arcanna, think of it as the usual 40% Arcanna Industry menu PLUS an extra menu of 20-30% off products that were previously unavailable to you.
And if you’re coming from TJ’s, many of the brands you previously got 20% off on will now be 40% off. (Sweet) Plus you’ll have access to even more brands overall than before.
Q: There are some brands that Arcanna used to carry in previous years - will they be added to the menu?
The short answer is – we hope so! We asked Arcanna for the list of brands they were currently carrying and giving 40% off on and we brought that menu over. They let us know there were brands they used to work with but stopped carrying anywhere between 6 months and up to 2-3 years ago because the suppliers weren’t able to work with them at a price point that would make the 40% possible and still stay in business. Our goal is to reapproach all of the suppliers we carry so that we can try to negotiate getting as many as possible to join the menu – even ones that were never available at Arcanna. So we know this isn’t the definite “yes” or “no” you may be looking for, but the best answer is we hope so! And we’re going to do everything we can to get as many brands on it as possible.
One of the daunting parts of this super fast transition is that Arcanna carried between 25-40 brands at any given time whereas TJs carries between 70-80 brands, so we have a lot of conversations to have in the next several weeks and months!
Overall, our reason for wanting to preserve Arcanna in the first place was so that Cannabis Industry Workers have the best access possible to product. So everything we do will be in the interest of growing that access!
Q: What happens with Loyalty Points?
A: TJ’s Loyalty Points will still be honored and will just be called “Arcanna at TJ’s Loyalty Points” now.
Arcanna didn’t previously have a loyalty program, so, surprise! Now you get one! We do 1% cash back on every purchase.
Q: What happens to the employees at both stores?
A: Arcanna employees have all been invited to interview for positions at the new location. We didn’t want anyone to lose their jobs, and we’ll need more staff to handle the additional customers coming over. TJ’s employees will all stay too!
Q: Will product quality or standards change?
A: Hell no! Both TJ’s and Arcanna enjoy a great reputation for quality and selection, and there’s no reason that will change!
Q: Have Daily Deals changed?
A: TJ’s and Arcanna each had their own set of Daily Deals, but they’re actually quite similar! In some instances, the deals at TJ’s were more advantageous for the customer, so we kept the TJ’s Daily Deals.
Q: Will hours change?
A: We’re keeping the TJ’s hours because they’re wider than Arcanna’s current hours. We’ll open at 8am and close at 9:30pm every day. That means before work, and after work – we’re open. Come on over!
The only days we’re closed are Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Q: Why is it important to have an Industry Store?
A: A great and complex question for sure. First, let’s call it like it is – we all thrive when Oregon’s budtenders know their shit and can make highly educated recommendations about product for everyone else. And if we expect them to be trusted experts, we also need to give them the best access we can to try anything and everything they need to in order to be great at their jobs.
Arcanna and TJ’s were both Industry Stores in their own way – Arcanna for the discounted access menu, and TJ’s for the premium selection of products. Now they’ll both be accessible in one place – the complete Industry Store experience.
By having a centralized Industry Store, we can provide feedback to producers, and everyone benefits from higher product standards.
Even if you’re not an OLCC Cannabis Industry Employee, an Industry Store is an invaluable place to shop. Product selection is vast, the best of the best selection is here, and everyone who knows what they’re talking about is here setting the bar for what we carry.
Portland needs an Industry Store! And now instead of having it split between TJ’s and Arcanna, it’s all in one place.
Thank you all again for your support!
Arcanna at TJ’s Dispensary Location
7827 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97206
971-346-2639