A century-old storefront near the corner of Randolph Avenue and West 7th is now home to one of the neighborhood’s newest businesses — and one of Minnesota’s newest types of retail.

Fort Road Cannabis, 899 Randolph Ave., opened in mid-November after a longer-than-expected startup process that included building renovations, city permitting and preparing for Minnesota’s newly legalized cannabis market.

“We got our license on the ninth,” co-owner Phil Springstead said. “Then we opened around the middle of November.”

The shop is owned by brothers Phil and Ryan Springstead along with business partner Trevor Guest. The three have known each other for decades, first meeting while working together at a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop on Grand Avenue in the early 2000s.

The idea for a cannabis business came years before legalization. The Springstead brothers purchased the Randolph Avenue property about seven years ago from a landlord they had worked for, initially without a specific plan.

“We were like, you know, Minnesota’s probably going to legalize weed sooner than later,” Phil Springstead said. “Maybe we should.”

Minnesota legalized recreational cannabis use for adults 21 and older on Aug. 1, 2023. The legislation allows adults to possess and grow limited amounts of cannabis and created the state’s Office of Cannabis Management to regulate cultivation, manufacturing and retail sales.

Commercial adult-use sales outside tribal jurisdictions began in September 2025 as the state’s licensing and regulatory system gradually rolled out.

Like many businesses entering the new industry, Fort Road Cannabis opened during a transitional period – the market is still developing and supply chains are forming for many of the products they sell and plan to offer.

Testing requirements and the rollout of licensed growers and distributors have created delays in some product categories, particularly traditional cannabis flower and vape cartridges, Phil Springstead said. For now, the store primarily sells THC-infused drinks and edibles, along with cannabis seeds and accessories.

“Slow motion is better than no motion,” said co-owner Trevor Guest. “It could still be illegal everywhere.”

Despite the delays, the owners said they are able to keep a curated mix of products available while they await more traditional products.

“We try to be fairly selective,” Phil Springstead said. “We get samples of them and decide what we actually like.”

The owners say they try to carry mostly Minnesota-made products whenever possible.

Inside, the store reflects a carefully curated aesthetic meant to blend boutique retail with the historic character of the neighborhood.

The building itself dates back roughly a century. According to Ryan Springstead, a photo from 1925 shows the space operating as a butcher shop.

“The storefront has been here for a hundred years,” he said. “We kind of want to preserve that old St. Paul feel, but with a nice boutique style.”

Many of the renovations were done by the owners themselves, including floors, drywall and paint. Custom wood shelving and trim were designed to match the building’s historic details.

The shop also displays work by local artists, with many pieces available for purchase.

The goal, the owners say, is to create a comfortable community space rather than a strictly transactional retail environment.

“We want it to be more of a hospitality thing than just retail,” Phil Springstead said. “We want to create a place people actually want to go to.”

That approach extends to helping people navigate products that remain unfamiliar to many consumers.

Staff members frequently talk with first-time visitors about the differences between cannabinoids, dosage levels and effects, aiming to make the experience approachable for newcomers.

“We start with asking people what their level of familiarity is,” Phil Springstead said. “What are you looking for?”

The owners say the neighborhood response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“A lot of people just come in because they drove by and didn’t realize we were open,” Ryan Springstead said. “Then they’re like, ‘Oh, this is a really cool store. I’ll definitely be back.’”

If you go

Fort Road Cannabis is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. More information is available at fortroadcannabis.com.