The Southern Humboldt Community, already reeling from a struggling economy due to the change in the cannabis industry and the current COVID crisis, now takes another blow as their only local pharmacy will close abruptly tomorrow which will create travel times of an hour or more one way to the nearest pharmacy and require more […]
Business
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Fortuna Businesses Struggle with Ripple Effects of SIP
The COVID-19 shelter-in-place order has had mixed impacts on the Friendly City. Fortuna’s small-business-dense Main Street has weathered trouble before: The 2008 financial crisis and recession shuttered some retail spaces, but the town rebounded. In 2015 a fire burned down the historic Star Hotel, which housed a music store and pharmacy. The town rebuilt. But as […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Did COVID Change Your Hours of Operation?
COVID-19 and sheltering in place have changed everything for local businesses and we’ve all got to adapt. If you’ve changed hours, switched to curbside pick-up or no-contact delivery to keep your customers and staff safe, you can let North Coast Journal readers know by adding or updating your free online listing here. Once approved, it’ll […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Reopen California? That’s the Toughest Phase Yet, Newsom Says
When will Californians emerge from house confinement? What will life look like? In a roadmap unveiled Tuesday with top public health officials, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will not lift his shelter-in-place order until adequate suppression and mitigation measures are in place to prevent future flare-ups. That means tracking down the sick and isolating clusters […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Committee Formed to Help Local Businesses Navigate COVID-19 Impacts
A handful of local organizations have banded together to form the COVID Economic Resilience Committee, which will focus on supporting local businesses through the pandemic. More specifically, the committee is aimed to coordinate the delivery of “critical information, resources and services to local businesses experiencing economic injury” and is comprised of representatives from the North […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Should Stores be Required to Accept Cash?
A small, but growing number of businesses are no longer accepting cash. Owners say that accepting only credit cards, debit cards or digital wallets like Apple Pay is more efficient and lowers the risk of being robbed. Electronic forms of payments are gaining popularity with consumers. But the cash-free trend has raised concerns that such […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Fire & Light is Closing Its Doors, Searching for a New Owner
Fire & Light, an iconic Humboldt County business story that mixed creativity with sustainability, is closing unless a buyer can be found. According to a Facebook page post today, the Arcata-based company known for its colorful glassware “is no longer financially feasible for the company to continue to operate without another significant investment of cash” […]
Posted inLetters + Opinion
The Strain Name Game
Quibbling over how we can brand cannabis using Humboldt as a signifier of the sticky icky is not new. In August of 2016 the county launched its track-and-trace program, allowing local growers to stamp their product with proof of origin. In January, state Sen. Mike McGuire introduced a bill that would strengthen existing wording in […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
There’s Weed-Infused Vodka Now
We all knew it was coming to this. Humboldt Distillery — which began selling its Humboldt Vodka brand a couple years ago — has released a cannabis-infused vodka called, obviously, “Humboldt’s Finest.” Owner Abe Stevens explains in a press release that the vodka — which doesn’t have any THC in it, rendering it legal to […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Huffman Backs Bill to get USPS off our Backs
Last month, the U.S. Postal Service contacted the Journal to tell us we were breaking federal law by including medical marijuana advertisements in our paper, which is mailed to subscribers through the USPS. Those advertisements, of course, are legal in the state of California. We decided to continue business as usual; read NCJ news editor Thadeus […]
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Let’s Parklet!
Old Town Eureka’s first parklet is prime for the sitting — well, uh, after this afternoon’s rains stop. After a slower-than-expected permitting process and rain-delayed construction, the one-parking-spot space in front of Ramone’s is ready for beverage sipping and general relaxation. Enjoy accordingly.
Posted inNews (NCJ)
Parklets Waiting for Droplets to Stop
Those parklets, the tiny, public, Old Town outdoor spaces that were supposed to be completed in September, got held up a little, but we’re assured they’re on their way. Eureka Community Development Director Rob Holmlund says the parklet plans for two of the four participating businesses have been approved by the city. Ramone’s Bakery owner […]