“Saturday in DC! Cap & Stem Grand Opening Event”

2601 Sherman Ave, NW

From a press release:

“CAP & STEM GRAND OPENING
Saturday, November 18th. 12pm-8pm

Cap & Stem is a wellness shop for plants and people, specializing in fine gardenalia and self care offerings. Since its soft opening earlier in the fall, the shop has garnered curiosity and votes of confidence from neighboring residents, artists and community stakeholders alike — already making waves in DC’s emergent fungus industry.

In just a month, Cap & Stem has proven itself to be a refreshing and welcome addition to Sherman Avenue, an area largely neglected as a location for new small business models. The shop offers a lifestyle-focused retail experience that sets itself apart from product selection and quality, to aesthetic and experience.

In the light-filled brick and mortar, teeming with plants from floor to ceiling, shoppers can find a locally crafted live-edge table and shelves stocked with both hard to find goods and local offerings. Hot items include: Claus Porto soaps and colognes; King Mushrooms adaptogenic tinctures; indoor plants and Bonsai trees; arts and culture books and plant medicine literature; Midwest favorite Dark Matter Coffee; and niche Niwaki gardening tools produced in Japan.

Additionally, Cap & Stem offers psilocybin gifts with the purchase of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange’s regional flower, herb, fruit, or veggie seeds. The shop’s selection of gifts include raw mushrooms, microdose capsules, truffles, and more — all sourced through local cultivation partner Bloomingdale Wellness. The knowledgeable staff prioritize psilocybin education, helping tailor each customer’s gifts by first learning about their previous experience with psilocybin and the intended use.

Cofounders Mykel Konohia and Patrick Burns met while working together at a fine art handling company. Their shared interest in plant medicines began with microdosing psilocybin during 2020 shutdowns, and developed into a passion for psilocybin cultivation, education and advocacy. Soon after DC’s roll out of plant medicine decriminalization, they met self-taught mycologist Hope Willis and data analyst Chloe Krueger. Two years later, the founding team has taken the Cap & Stem vision from concept to tangible reality.

“We decided Cap & Stem’s focus should be gardenalia and self care offerings because we believe in the synergy between taking care of a plant, and taking care of self,” says co-founder Mykel Konohia. “We are thinking about wellness through a holistic lens. My hope is that this flagship brick and mortar will serve as a space for care and change-seeking people to learn more about psilocybin, find community, and enjoy products that help to enhance their daily rituals. At our grand opening event, folks who have visited the store since the soft opening will get to see their feedback reflected — from the interior design and amenities, to product inventory.”

“We’re excited to bring folks in on every level,” says shop manager Hope Willis. “As a DC Native, I’m proud to be spearheading our plant medicine education and programmatic efforts. It was important to me that Cap & Stem be a place where customers can learn about psilocybin in an accessible manner—whether it be through conversations with our staff, our easy to read microdosing literature, or our carefully curated book selection. Rather than opening another extractive business, we’re looking to serve as a community hub within the residential neighborhood and DC’s broader ecosystem. I look forward to opening up Cap & Stem to guest facilitators and creating a platform for various activations like workshops, talks and classes.”

On Saturday, November 18th, the Cap & Stem team will celebrate the store’s official grand opening with an all-day event featuring music by DJs NativeSun, Mathias, JESSICUNT, ZNORTHY, and LES, drinks and food from Supreme Barbecue and La Tejana. In addition, opening day attendees will have first access to shop new, limited release Cap & Stem merchandise, and learn about the membership program launch. Plant lovers can enjoy a potting station featuring ceramics by local artisans. For folks outside of the area, the online store launch will coincide with opening day. Memberships and in all products offered in-store, with the exception of live plants, will be available to shop online.

STORE HOURS:

Wednesday:
10AM – 8PM

Thursday:
10AM – 8PM

Friday:
10AM – 8PM

Saturday:
10AM – 8PM

Sunday:
10AM – 8PM

Closed Monday and Tuesday.”