That is reality the owner of Four North Cannabis Retailers are currently facing.

Last July, the owners of Four North Cannabis Retailers had high hopes of opening their storefront in downtown New Ulm by early fall, but shifting state regulations and the need for product testing have delayed the opening.

Though the business opening has been delayed, owners are optimistic they will be able to open at 4 N. Minnesota Street before the end of 2026 and are asking customers to remain patient.

Four North is the retail side of a cannabis micro-business called Brick Side Growers, Inc. The micro-business is vertically integrated, meaning in addition to a retail store, Brick Side Growers will operate its own cannabis growing facility in Lafayette to supply its store, and others with their own locally produced product.

All the permits are in place, but a shortage of product testing in Minnesota has delayed Four North Cannabis Retailer from opening.

Brick Side Growers was started by owners Glenn Hauser, Tad Ulrich and Todd Christiansen. Recently, Joel Aufderheide was hired as the nursery manager for Brick Side Growers and Traci Pettitt was hired as the General Manager. The five of them have been working to navigate the constantly shifting regulations of Minnesota’s cannabis laws.

Currently, Brick Side Growers has the resources and permits to grow cannabis plants, but the commercial sale is on hold until the product can be tested by an endorsed lab.

Every cannabis product produced for the store or for wholesale needs to be lab tested. Christiansen said this includes the raw cannabis flower. If that flower is turned into oil or a gummy product, it would need to be tested again.

Though the testing and regulation process is time-consuming, it is something every Minnesota cannabis business will need to do before opening. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of laboratories capable of doing this work.

Christiansen said they have reached out to the three labs, but none are able to do any testing yet due to low staffing. Even the labs that are capable of testing are reporting long waits.

Owners of new cannabis micro business (L to R) Todd Christiansen, Glenn Hauser and Tad Ulrich stand outside their cannabis retail store in July 2025. The store is located at 4 N. Minnesota Street in New Ulm and is named Four North. The storefront has yet to open due to changes in a heavily regulated market, but the owners remain optimistic of opening in 2026. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Ulrich said some cannabis retailers are reporting 11-week waits for tests.

Technically, Four North could begin selling cannabis products now, but with the delay in testing, there is no way to guarantee a steady supply of product.

“What is really important to us is to offer a wide variety of products with consistent inventory,” Pettitt said. “Would you open a liquor store and only have six cases of beer?”

“We don’t want to open our doors and immediately close our doors,” Christiansen said.

Pettitt said they have heard of cannabis stores opening up with a limited selection and limited products.

The owners of Brick Side Grower play a game of chess in the lobby of their new retail store in downtown New Ulm. The store is called Four North and will be the first cannabis retail shop in New Ulm. (Clockwise) Glenn Hauser, Tad Ulrich and Todd Christiansen. Photo by Clay Schuldt

“We don’t want that,” she said. “I think the worst thing that could happen is we open with limited product, build up a base and not be able to keep that base.”

With the continuing bottleneck on testing, Pettitt said they are now focusing on cultivating and manufacturing at their Lafayette facility.

“Even though this place is licensed, we feel it is in our best interest to focus on our cultivation,” Pettitt said.

The former Lafayette Charter School building is serving as the grow facility for the business. The facility offers 20,000 square feet, including a kitchen space that would allow them to create a variety of edible cannabis products.

Ulrich and Aufderheide said the buildout has already begun at the grow facility. The drying rooms and curating rooms have been constructed. They recently removed the flooring to be replaced with an epoxy floor for easy cleaning.

One of the benefits of producing their own product line is it allows them to build trust with the customers.

Pettitt said trust is especially important in the cannabis market because it’s new to the state.

“We want to focus on educating the public on offering a warm, welcoming environment,” she said. “We want people to feel comfortable and build trust in us.”

Aufderheide said once the storefront is open, they want people to stop in and ask questions. That’s why the business is designed with comfortable furniture.

The biggest question most people have for Four North is when will they open?

Christiansen said this is the “golden question.” He is hesitant to give an opening date in case things get pushed back again.

“People need to have patience with us,” Aufderheide said. “We are trying to create two new businesses in a new, heavily regulated market.”

Though no one has a set day for when Four North will be able to open its doors, the staff remains excited about the possibilities.

Christensen said he is looking forward to walking into the grow facility and seeing the rows of cannabis plants.

“We’re just as excited to open to the public,” Pettitt said. “There is pride it taking a plant that started with a seed that now gets to be enjoyed by the community.”