The Natural Healing Center (NHC) opened its doors on Apr. 12, becoming the second cannabis store in Morro Bay, and reoccupying a prime location to sell marijuana in the Downtown business district.

Located at Napa Street and Morro Bay Boulevard,  NHC spent over $1 million remodeling the former Mill’s Stationary/ASAP Reprographics store, with new paint, stylish sidewalk canopies, and a whitewashed wooden front façade. 

The Morro Bay store becomes  NHC’s second store in SLO County, with the first opening a couple of years ago in Grover Beach. They also have a store in Lemoore, Ca. 

The company will now focus efforts on getting a location in San Luis Obispo on Broad Street opened before the end of this year. The company will open another store in Turlock, Ca., sometime next year.

Rebecca Oribello,  NHC’s marketing associate, said they spent about three months on the remodel — which was done by Nick Reed and R3B Corp. — and the store will have over 20 employees. They will carry a full line of CBD products as well as marijuana buds, extracts, vape pens, and more.

While Mills was one big open store,  NHC’s interior is broken up into several parts, a front lobby with living walls of succulent plants and an amazing front check-in desk, greeting customers.

Top left, on Apr. 12, Natural Healing Center (NHC) owner, Helios Dayspring, uses the Chamber of Commerce’s giant scissors to cut the ribbon and officially open the new NHC cannabis store in Downtown Morro Bay. Around him are City officials and folks with the Chamber of Commerce. Top center, the first gallery at NHC’s new cannabis store is spacious, well lit, and the look of a high-end jewelry store. Top right, NHC owner, Helios Dayspring (right), poses with Morro Bay Police Cmdr. Amy Watkins on Apr. 12, at NHC’s grand opening. MBPD worked on the extensive security requirements called for by the City’s cannabis ordinance. Bottom, here’s a wide-angle view of one of two galleries at the new Natural Healing Center cannabis store in Downtown Morro Bay. Contributed photos

One then passes through a pair of security doors before entering one of two main sales galleries. The interiors have the look and feel of a high-end jewelry store with beautiful wood floors and cabinets, long glass display cases and “budtenders” working with customers in a one-on-one manner.

NHC is located at 495 Morro Bay Blvd. and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. You must be at least 21 to enter and show photo I.D. They only take cash but have an ATM on site.

Morro Bay’s other marijuana store, Perfect Union 1000 Quintana Rd., opened last October. Morro Bay’s ordinance allows for just two cannabis stores in town.

The City will get a 5 percent special cannabis tax on every item, plus 1.5 percent in local sales taxes. The City manager said they anticipate bringing in between $375,000 to $475,000 per year from the 5 percent cannabis tax.