GŪD Essence, a cannabis shop and wellness brand, is set to open Aug. 15 in Downtown Jacksonville. The soft opening ceremony will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 210 E. State St.
According to a news release, the opening event will include a sound bath experience and a Lifted Yoga pop-up, designed to help attendees decompress, reconnect and recharge. Visitors will also see a mini market featuring local vendors, live music, live glass blowing and “Guddie” bag giveaways.
Local vendors include The LemonLaid Lady, Tasty Trees, The Haus of Venom, The Empress Creations, Head Plant and The Ancestors Creations.
The Jacksonville location is GŪD Essence’s second in Florida after opening in Clearwater in 2025. The company expects to open in Miami, Orlando and Titusville in 2026, with the goal of opening 20 dispensaries statewide in the next two years.
After its opening Aug. 15, GŪD Essence’s hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
In February 2026, the city of Jacksonville issued a permit for S.R. Construction Services LLC of Palm City to renovate 3,837 square feet of interior space at 210 E. State St. at a project cost of $408,000. Previously permits included one for interior demolition at $29,000 and one for site work at $35,000.
Codes-ABC Inc. of Orange Park is the private plan reviewer. RAW Architecture + Design of Fort Lauderdale was the architect.
The dispensary replaces a Burger King, which closed in 2023 at the same location.
“The Downtown Jacksonville site gives us the opportunity to revitalize an existing building and bring new life to the urban core. We see downtown as a growing, dynamic community, and we want our first Northeast Florida dispensary to reflect that energy and accessibility,” said GŪD Essence CEO Jasmine Johnson by email Sept. 24.
She said GŪD Essence is a cannabis and wellness brand “dedicated to cultivating premium products and meaningful community experiences.”