Jazz Cabbage cannabis dispensary
and lounge now open in Lowertown

By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | October 2026

Lowertown’s first recreational cannabis dispensary has opened with a twist. Jazz Cabbage, located in the former Kat-Keys building at 245 7th St. E., has both a retail room with cannabis flower and THC-infused products as well as a lounge where people can socialize while imbibing a THC-infused beverage. Inspired by 1970s jazz lounges, it’s outfitted with retro furniture, artwork, lava lamps, and a record player spinning smooth tunes.

Tom Whaley, who co-owns Jazz Cabbage with his brother Jack, said they were able to open the lounge because it is in a different room from the retail space. This allowed them to get a license with a special consumption endorsement.

“From what we’ve heard, this is kind of rare so far,” he said. “Most dispensaries are just retail.”

The brothers were born and raised in Minnesota. Tom has a degree in music and played classical trombone for several years in Chicago before moving to Oregon. It was there that he pivoted and turned his lifelong hobby of horticulture into a profession, landing a job cultivating and growing cannabis for dispensaries. Jack joined him on the West Coast a few years later and gained managerial experience working at several dispensaries.

“Opening our own [dispensary] was kind of always just like the joke when we both started working in cannabis… someday you’ll [Tom] grow it and I’ll sell it,” said Jack. “Then we saw the unique way that Minnesota legalized with the mezzobusiness license that allows for vertical integration, which literally meant that Tommy could grow it and then we could sell it at our own brick and mortar dispensary. In Oregon, you had to go through a third party.” The brothers began the application process while living in Oregon.

While the duo was still waiting on permitting as of press time, they hope to have their own growing operation on-site by the start of 2027. In the meantime, they are sourcing cannabis from Minnesota growers.

Jazz Cabbage offers cannabis “deli style,” which means people can view multiple varieties and have a quantity taken off, weighed and packaged, rather than purchasing prepackaged products. Tom said this helps keep prices lower and reflects the experience that dispensaries in the Pacific Northwest offer.

Kat-Keys occupied the building for more than 100 years before closing, and the first time the brothers saw the building they knew it fit their vision perfectly. It had only been vacant for about six months before they signed the lease. Aside from cosmetic upgrades, work prior to opening included stripping plaster from a wall to reveal its original brickwork, replacing flooring and lighting, and renovating bathrooms to be ADA compliant. A host of security features were also installed, including video cameras, as required by state law.

“We’re super stoked,” said Jack. “We love Lowertown. I think it’s such a cool area. The architecture, the people. It’s such a tight knit community. I think we can give the residents here a fun experience that they’ll enjoy, and we’re really going to lean into the community. Obviously, we’ll be supported by the Lowertown community and so we want to give back to them and make them feel like they have a space where they can be supported.”

You’ll find Tom and Jack behind the counter virtually every day, but they also have five staff members, three of whom live within walking distance. The business isn’t currently permitted to sell for medical cannabis, however a discount is provided when a medical card is shown.

Hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.; 9 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat.; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. For more information, visit jazz-cabbage.com.

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