AVONDALE — A colorful ’60s diner is ready to welcome patrons in Avondale, but they won’t be leaving with full stomachs.
The diner-themed storefront is home to Avondale’s first weed dispensary. Bud & Rita’s, 3425 W. Belmont Ave., opened this week after a year of work to finalize the space, get city clearance and hire budtenders from the area.
The dispensary takes over two long-empty storefronts. A grand opening this weekend will include giveaways, raffle prizes, and free coffee and food from nearby local businesses, including coffee from Dark Matter Coffee, dumplings from Joong Boo Market and burritos from Moonwalker Cafe.
Customers can also enjoy 30 percent off all products for opening weekend.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 320px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}}@media ( min-width: 970px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}} Inside Bud & Rita’s. Credit: Ariel Parrella-Aureli/Block Club Chicago
Nature’s Grace and Wellness and Green & Randle are behind the dispensary, their first Chicago spot as a duo. The team wanted to open another dispensary in Little Village, but the plan was rejected by the zoning board after neighborhood opposition.
Sarah Zematis, of Evanston, founded Green & Randle in 2015. Nature’s Grace was founded
