A new medical marijuana dispensary named Blüm will occupy the space currently held by the Scotland Yard Spy Shop at 1085 S. Virginia St. in Reno’s Midtown district after its owners sold the property for about $1.2 million. The incoming operator, MediFarm—a subsidiary of publicly traded Terra Tech—marks Northern Nevada’s first entry for the Irvine, California-based chain, which plans an April 2016 opening amid Nevada’s evolving cannabis regulations. This shift highlights the rapid commercial adaptation to the state’s medical marijuana framework, drawing national operators to urban neighborhoods.
Property Transition Fuels Local Business Relocation
David and Debbie Currier, owners of Scotland Yard Spy Shop, secured a new location across the street for roughly half the sale price of their former building. They intend to relocate and expand inventory in the coming months, preserving their specialty retail presence in Midtown. The transaction underscores how Nevada’s medical marijuana market reshapes commercial real estate, enabling smaller businesses to reinvest proceeds into growth while larger chains claim high-traffic spots.
Strategic Location and Community Integration
Blüm’s site stands out for its proximity to residential areas and pedestrian commerce, differing from Reno’s Sierra Wellness Connection and Sparks’ Silver State Relief, which sit farther from dense urban activity. Terra Tech CEO Derek Peterson reported no local opposition after direct outreach to neighboring businesses, framing the approach as grassroots assimilation. The dispensary commits to local hiring, prioritizing military veterans, and will source products from Nevada cultivators until its own facility completes buildout.
Nevada Regulations Attract National Expansion
Nevada’s medical marijuana laws enable non-resident operators and offer reciprocity for out-of-state patients, spurring MediFarm’s entry. Hiring events start in January 2016, aligning with an April launch. Peterson anticipates substantial growth if voters approve recreational use in November 2016, projecting Nevada’s market among the nation’s largest. MediFarm also advances dispensaries near the Las Vegas Strip and in unincorporated Clark County, signaling confidence in the state’s regulatory environment.
