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At the southern end of Eureka there is now a Humboldt County first: a legal cannabis use lounge where you can smoke, eat and socialize to your heart’s content.
When the local cannabis company Papa & Barkley converted the former K-Mart building into a manufacturing facility, there was a concrete slab to the right that was intended for the conversion. Upon arrival at the construction site, the exterior looks as it should – a huge industrial warehouse suitable for the manufacture of cannabis products. But on the far right, Papa & Barkley Social welcomes the public to a hidden oasis, lush and green. The other half of the partnership and the namesake – obviously due to their characteristic aesthetics – is the local hotel brand Humboldt Social.
Guests aged 21 and over can enjoy a range of wellness experiences at Papa & Barkley Social. Upon entering, the retail store in the reception area is stocked with locally made items, from books to clothing to loot from partner brands.
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Outside there is a patio next to a new food truck and cocktail bar. The soft opening 4/20 event consisted of a freshly minted lemonade with lavender syrup and an optional CBD tincture of Papa & Barkley lemongrass ginger for guests to relax in. The growing partnership between Humboldt Social and chef Pawel Gago from Pizza Gago in the region inspired the creation of Pig & Leaf with a selection of small bites, roast meat, salads and sweets. While Pig & Leaf does not serve cannabis infused dishes, guests can consume cannabis foods in the consumption lounge behind the food truck.
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The consumption lounge – this is what cannabis users have been waiting for. In one of the three “Canna cabins” named by Anea Bogue, the creative director behind the project, guests can relax and smoke, eat or drink cannabis products. Plush seats surround fireplaces with large parasols that provide shade from the spring and summer sun. Although the details have not yet been clarified, a nominal fee will be charged for entry into the consumption area, according to Bogue, and possible membership plans may also follow. Patrons are welcome to bring their own cannabis products to consume in the lounge, or they can shop directly at the new pharmacy inside.
There are five brands at the pharmacy – Papa & Barkley, Social Nature, DewPoint, Emerald Queen Farms, and Sunrise Mountain – the last three are female-owned cannabis companies. If there’s one consistent theme on Papa & Barkley Social, it’s sure to be women. As Jon O’Connor, half of the husband and wife team behind Humboldt Social, said at the cutting of the ribbons, women ages 30 to 60 are in their core demographics. Such a robust team of women at the top is natural to appeal to this section of the population ;; Co-owner Amy Cirincione O’Connor, the creative team, farmers, retail and spa teams are mostly female.
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And oh yes, there is a day spa. Behind the pharmacy is a small piece of sanctuary that offers massages and hot stone treatments. Guests can book online or by phone and purchase Papa & Barkley or Social Nature-infused themes to be used during treatments. After all, no trip to this place would be complete without playing a swing at The Nest, a collaborative, locally made botanical art installation perfect for selfies.
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All of these indulgences will be open to the public starting May 6th. If this is your thing, get out of the shadows of the ban to smoke, sip, enjoy a snack, a spa, and a selfie. That took a long time.
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Jessica Ashley Silva is a gourmet and cannabis propagation specialist and works as a processing manager in the Arcata cannabis innovation zone.
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