High Five Interview: Ian Eisenberg, Owner of Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop

December 10, 2014 By Manic Conrad

‘High Five’ is an interview where we choose someone from the local marijuana industry who is deserving of appreciation.

Ian Eisenberg is one of the owners of Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop. The fact that he is one of the owners didn’t have much to do with luck as he placed badly in the I-502 retail lottery earlier this year and walked away without a license. But, with a little bit of skill, experience, leverage, and perseverance, he was able to turn his dream into a reality.

We would like to thank this recreational marijuana store owner for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer the following questions. For opening the 2nd legal retail shop in Seattle, we give Ian Eisenberg a ‘High Five.’

1) Predict the Future. Three years from now what does the local Seattle recreational marijuana industry look like and where are we nationally?

In three years I think all 21 recreational shops will be open. The big “if” is what will happen to the medical marijuana industry. I think legislation will pass and medical marijuana will be rolled into the existing I502 framework or the LCB will be tasked with creating a similar framework. I also think there will be some kind of state patient registry. The price of recreational weed will continue to fall and the available products will expand. I think our regulatory framework will be a model for other states.

2) Go back to the age of 21. Someone tells you that you would open a marijuana shop in Seattle in 2014. How do you react and what do you say?

Sounds good, let’s do it!

3) What is your favorite part about running Uncle Ike’s? What is the most challenging?

My favorite part is the people. We have great employees and all of the vendors we deal with are, seriously, the nicest people I have ever met. One of the funnest things is dealing with the customers who are so happy and excited – it is contagious. One of the most challenging things is just dealing with Biotrack and working through the kinks associated with a new industry. Every day is exciting and filled with something new.

4) Who is your role model and why?

I’m still looking for one.

5) Martian Mean Green, Schnazzleberry, and Trainwreck, are some of our favorite names for strains of cannabis. Here’s your chance! If you could name a strain of cannabis, what would you name it?

Our average customer is probably 40 or 50 years old. I think a lot of the current names are lost on them. It will be interesting to see how the names evolve.

How KC Martin Franks Won the Lottery Twice Making Him Rich and How It Messes Everything Up

November 11, 2014 By Manic Conrad

A lot of people will go through a lifetime with dreams of winning a lottery but never come close. Bucket loads of money and effort later, they are no better off than they were, and sometimes worse. And then someone will come along and not just win the lottery, but when it twice in the same drawing. Lucky bastard.

KC Martin Franks (not sure if this is a name of a person, the name of an LLC, or both) won two spots in the Washington State retail license lottery back in July. According to the Marijuana Applicants List, 388 businesses entered the lottery for their chance to win one of 27 available recreational cannabis licenses for the City of Seattle. That means KC Martin Franks had just under a 7% chance of winning. Which would mean he had just over a 3% chance of winning the lottery twice. Again, lucky bastard.

Just recently, Central District pot shop Uncle Ike’s, opened as the 2nd recreational marijuana store in Seattle. Even though their were several owners attached to this shop, the only name anyone knew of was Ian Eisenberg, a local entrepreneur. But, because of a lawsuit filed by the church next door to the pot shop which discloses additional info, we now know who the other owners are – one of which is KC Martin Franks.

So why do we believe KC Martin Franks is rich? For one, when CapitolHillSeattle.com covered the opening of Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop back in September, the article states in reference to Ian Eisenberg’s ability to work out a deal: ‘…was able to work out an “oh my fucking god” expensive deal to acquire a portion of another company that did luck out in the liquor board’s summer pot license lottery.’ It looks to us that KC Martin Frank is beneficiary of an expensive deal. So we assume he’s rich. Of course, that’s subjective. Add the fact that Uncle Ike’s pulled in oodles of money the first week they were opened, and it’s safe to say that if ‘Franks’ isn’t rich, he’s headed that way.

So how does this mess everything up? KC Martin Franks had won 2 recreational retail marijuana license rankings when the lottery was held back in July: one in SODO and one in Ballard. Both of these neighborhoods saw more retail lottery winners than anywhere else in Seattle. Now that KC Martin Franks has partnered up with Ian Eisenberg and another business man, using the property Ian Eisenberg owned in the Central District, that means there will be one less shop in Ballard or SODO, than assumed.

Because SODO had the highest concentration of recreational marijuana retail lottery winners, we thought this neighborhood could potentially be the marijuana district of Seattle, and a perfect location for such a thing. In fact, shortly after the lottery was held, we took a trip down to SODO and explored the possibility. If the SODO address was used for Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop, then that would mean one less retail marijuana shop in the area. While SODO could still be a marijuana district, there is currently only one shop there now – Cannabis City – and who knows if other lottery locations haven’t been moved for one reason or another.

How this messes things up, is actually subjective as well. In the eyes of those who live in the Central District and Capitol Hill , this only makes things better, as their will soon be two recreational marijuana stores in the area when Mello Times opens. Unless if you are Mount Calvary Christian Center, then it makes everything a living hell.

God: “My Beloved Sons and Daughters of Mount Calvary Christian Center, You’re Doing it All Wrong…”

November 3, 2014 By Manic Conrad

Dear Mount Calvary Christian Center,

My beloved sons and daughters, this is your Creator. As you know, normally I reach you through a prayer or a miracle, but since I haven’t written a letter in so long, I thought I would reach you in this manner.

I was going to write this sooner, more specifically when Justin from CHS wrote this article about your filing a lawsuit, but I kind of got sidetracked by the rest of the world. It wasn’t until I saw (on Evan Bush’s twitter feed) you try to obtain a temporary restraining order against the Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop next door, that I realized I had waited too long to say something. Yes, contrary to popular belief, I sometimes make mistakes.

This isn’t about passing judgement on others and what they choose to do, even though I probably should remind you, that is my job. But it’s more than that. It’s about looking at this situation in a whole new light. No pun intended, even though you know, I’m all about the light.

In short, YOU’RE DOING IT ALL WRONG.

Instead of condemning the pot shop, you should see this as an opportunity! I know you don’t support marijuana and anyone who chooses to consume, even though it’s a plant of the earth and I created it. But while you’re wasting your time and energy trying to shut down the pot shop, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to speak to the souls who enter the store, and spread the gospel. My son’s gospel! And without the pot shop, the souls you desperately want to save will disappear.

Think about this: you are a church next to a pot shop. How frickin’ cool is that? You are now relevant. Use it to your advantage. Not only should you befriend the employees next door, especially when they offer you coffee and donuts, but you should take out an ad in the local newspaper that states: ‘We are the church next to the pot shop.‘ You may be surprised how many people walk through your doors next Sunday morning.

I must go now, as there are more pressing matters I must tend to.

Your loving Creator,

God

Disclaimer: This isn’t really a letter we obtained from God. This is actually made up letter of what we imagine God would write.

Pot Shop of the Month (October 2014): Uncle Ike’s

November 3, 2014 By Manic Conrad

Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop became just the 2nd of four recreational marijuana stores in Seattle, when it opened its’ doors at the end of September in the Central District neighborhood. October was its’ first full month in operation, and it was an interesting and eventful one to say the least.

Uncle Ike’s came as a bit of a surprise, especially when Ian Eisenberg’s name surfaced as one of the owners, and his property on 23rd and Union would be the pot shop’s new home. Back in July, when the recreational marijuana retail lottery was held, Eisenberg was actually one of the lottery losers. But with a piece of prime real estate to his name and some wheeling dealing magic as we imagine, he became one of the owners.

The pot shop opened to a respectable amount of fanfare. Nothing like the frenzy that surrounded the opening of Cannabis City, Seattle’s first recreational marijuana store, but respectable. Since then, it has stayed true to one of its’ sales mottos: never out of stock and has recorded strong sales figures.

But the biggest news since their grand opening, is the protests by the Mount Calvary Christian Church next door. The church doesn’t agree with a pot store being so close to their facility, a church affiliated teen recreation center down the street, and a parklet nearby. In fact, just recently the church filed a lawsuit against Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop, the City of Seattle, and the Washington State Liquor Control Board. Despite all of this, Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop has been admirable in dealing with this situation and even befriending the church.

Not only has Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop already made a name for themselves in the Central District and Capitol Hill neighborhood, but we have people asking about the shop in areas outside of Seattle. This pot shop has been a welcome addition to the recreational marijuana industry. From their drive, their attitude, and their branding. Not only did they endure the grand opening madness, a massive protest, and a filing of a lawsuit, but they did it with flying colors. They are the HAS Pot Shop of the Month for October 2014.

Marijuana Review: ‘UFO Flower’ by ‘Torch NW’ From ‘Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop’

October 30, 2014 By Fischer Campbell

Close to Capitol Hill and in the Central District, you’ll find Uncle Ike’s Pot Shop. A darling little spot with a name that this author can see becoming synonymous alongside Beechers, Pike Place Market, and other traditional Seattle standbys.

High Above Seattle visited Uncle Ike’s, and picked up a 2 gram bag of UFO Flower from Washington State processor Torch NW.

Torch NW bill themselves as “premiere processors.” They have a team with a combined 25+ years in wholesale product distribution, and they are active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instragram.

One of the special items Torch NW brings to the table is “a stand alone interface that allows producers to bring their product in whatever sizes they like. The high frequency sort system allows for damage free packaging of various densities and sizes”. This is basically new technology that Torch NW is confident will become the “norm” statewide.

Another special factor of Torch NW is that they have an art team with 20+ years experience specializing in brand recognition. As of now, pot shops have been struggling just to get product through the doors – however once there is an abundance and the real competition starts, brand recognition will play a key role in customers deciding which strain to buy.

I do kind of wish Torch NW would list the producer of the strain, just so we could give credit where it’s due – considering UFO Flower is such a great product. However I’m not sure how all the works, so for now I’m presenting the strain as Torch NW’s product.

UPDATE: Torch NW have reached out to us and confirmed that they are in fact the producer as well as the processor. It goes without saying that this is super cool, but I’m going to say it anyway. This kind of cyclical “jack of trades” business ethic is admirable, and harkens to the “farm to fork” movement (at least in this author’s opinion). From bud to bowl, from cut to cure, from seed to sealed – Torch NW are practicing excellence in their marijuana efforts.

Let’s take a look at the packaging – which is pretty simple. There is a large Torch NW sticker on the front, which includes a tiny sticker detailing the strain’s information – and that’s about it. A clear bag displays the hallowed nugs inside, which I think is always a good thing. It’s important for processors to focus on see-through packaging, as shops are unable to open up packages to display the product; hence if you’ve got opaque packaging, your bud is literally a mystery to the customer until they get home and crack the package open.

Moving on to UFO Flower’s specifics:

“Potency Analysis” total – 18.331%
THC – 1.759%

The fragrance of UFO Flower is hard to pin. I try to not let the names of strains influence my perception of the smell and taste, but true to it’s title – the smell was alien to me. Breaking a nug apart and holding it close, one can make out a combination of grape, spice, and funk. It’s quite the quandary to describe, and can only be solved by the fact that you’ll just have to try it for yourself.

Looking at the buds, they are are a deep hue with lovely greens & purples. UFO Flower burns superb as well, not being too dry – it’s a bang up job, if I do say so myself.

According to Torch NW’s website: UFO Flower’s taste is described as “sweet, grape, and funky”. Smoking out of a pipe, I’d concur with the descriptors used. The taste is strong, lingering on your tongue – which is what I’d imagine a space flower actually tasting like.

Getting high with UFO Flower is a relaxing experience. It’s ideal for concentration – whether being creative, or just enjoying some music/tv (like watching the X Files). The euphoria is strong coupled by the fact that you can pretend you’re smoking alien herbs, making me wonder why more strains aren’t named after cryptids. Overall the vibe is calm, it’s a good “rainy day” bud, and considering the weather we’ve been having lately UFO Flower suited me perfectly.

A tip of the hat to Torch NW for UFO Flower, a truly stellar experience. I’m looking forward to sampling further products from the processor, and grabbing them at good ol’ Uncle Ikes.

UPDATE: Check out more weed reviews and our guide to Seattle marijuana stores.