Since opening six years ago, Club 420 — formerly F Street Dispensary — remains a favorite in the Davis cannabis community

The dispensary, serendipitously located at 420 F St., is set up in a small house co-owner and CEO Rob Read’s family owns and has for over 30 years. Customers are greeted at the sign-in desk, with the shop and all its products visible to the left

Read said he is blessed to be one of the city’s favorite dispensaries, even after a slight change in name and brand.

“When we opened Highway 80 Dispensary three years ago in Dixon, we thought that by using the identical leaf that is in our logo, people would associate the two stores as one,” Read said. “Some did, but it wasn’t as apparent as we would like, so in an effort to really co-brand the locations and let people know that there are two great options, one on the freeway and one in downtown Davis, we decided to make the name change. Some natural benefits arise from that, such as a single website. People can go to one website, pick between two stores, and understand there are two places available for them.”

At Club 420, guests can purchase flower, prerolls, vaporizer cartridges, extracts, tinctures, topicals and edibles, including beverages. Club staff are on hand to guide customers through their catalog of products, helping each patron find the right product for them.

“It feels great that our hard work and focus on customer service and cannabis options and savings are recognized,” Read said. “I work alongside a fantastic team of individuals who are passionate about cannabis and customer service, and it’s great to know that customers are feeling that.

“Staff works their tails off every day in both of our locations, bringing in products, getting them ready, and answering customers’ questions face to face. The team behind the scenes also supports the stores, whether it’s product ordering, getting events ready, or making sure our website is up to date and working as smoothly as possible. Thankfully, we have great people leading the charge.”

Along with the staff, Club 420’s special discounts and offers set it apart from other nearby stores, according to Read.

“The value our customers derive from our store is critical to our success,” he said. “These products and brands are available elsewhere, so why would folks choose us over our competitors?

“Well, because we strive to provide selection, service and savings. If we can hyper-focus on those three areas and make decisions on how the business will be run with those cornerstones in mind, hopefully, it will resonate with people. That perception of value, being treated well, and having a product selection they are looking for is what we think is most important.”

The next major milestone for Read and Club 420 would be the 10-year mark. A decade in business would be a massive accomplishment for the establishment, as the cannabis industry is always evolving.

For now, however, Read will just focus on serving his community, one day at a time.

“They say a normal start-up is lucky to make it three years but really lucky to make it six or more,” Read reflected. “In cannabis, there are businesses bailing or going into tax debt, so 10 years would really be astounding to know we have been able to survive and thrive in a dynamic, challenging environment that we know still has more dips and turns ahead. So we are just going to keep our heads down, working hard, focusing on our cornerstone of service, selections and savings to see if that bucks the test of time for the hardships the industry faces.”

With locations in Davis and Dixon, Read feels they serve more than just the immediate communities they are located in and strives to continue that service for those in Yolo County and further away.

“We really feel like we are serving the broader region,” Read said. “The taxes we generate at a local level are significant, as in a percentage of the general fund. We then go beyond that, not just to help fund the cities we operate in but to give away money to the fantastic service organizations that make these communities a better place to live and help support vulnerable populations. We want to recognize and support those efforts that are critical to the needs of cities in Yolo and Solano Counties.”