Prague, Czech Republic — In a quiet corner of the city, behind the industrial façade of what looks like any other warehouse district, stands a place that helped reshape cultivation culture across an entire region. Grow City CZ, founded nearly thirty years ago by Michal Otipka, isn’t just a grow shop—it's a landmark, a community hub, and in many ways, a symbol of resistance.
“We were the first grow shop in the former East Europe, former communist countries,” Michal says, standing in the flagship Prague location, a space he describes as a “headquarters but also a permanent exhibition.” From here, Grow City supplies nearly all of Eastern and Southern Europe, and a growing portion of Germany. “Basically, I would say the biggest and best European grow shop,” he adds with a matter-of-fact calm that comes from nearly three decades in the game.
From Police Raids to Regional Authority
The rise of Grow City hasn’t been without turbulence. Michal remembers 2013 vividly—the year of a massive police raid that targeted his shop not for any one item, but for the entire ecosystem it represented.
“The pretext was the complete chain—seeds, books, education, grow stuff, and paraphernalia,” he recalls. “Basically we are selling grow equipment and smoking stuff for tobacco and CBO. It’s bullshit, but it’s like this.”
But the raid did the opposite of what authorities hoped for: it solidified Grow City’s status as an essential source of trusted information and equipment. Michal doubled down on what he believed mattered most—education.
“The idea was we selected the best brands in the market and it’s like a permanent exhibition,” he explains. “We make education for the people. We always combine it with some social event or smoking sesh or cannabis cup or something like this.”
The strategy worked. Today, Grow City CZ is not just a retail destination—it’s a cultural touchstone for European cultivation.
A New Era of Legalization
Legalization in the Czech Republic is unfolding in real-time, and Michal is both relieved and energized. “I'm almost 30 years in the business and the legalization is like—man, finally the slave is over,” he says. “And I want to really celebrate it.”
The new framework allows people to grow up to three plants and possess up to 100 grams at home, plus carry 25 grams. For those who “don’t give a fuck,” as Michal puts it, five plants, 200 grams at home, and 50 grams outside is still within the realm of acceptable risk.
Grow City makes the process accessible, especially for beginners.
“We have simple sets starting from 200 bucks for three plants,” he explains. “It’s a complete set… a cheap option, but it works. And then we can upgrade.”
In a region where quality equipment was once impossible to find, this accessibility is revolutionary.
A Gift for the Next Generation of Growers
To honor the new chapter for the country—and to celebrate the end of decades of prohibition—Michal is launching one of the most radical public initiatives in Europe.
“I will give to every citizen, or every grower 21 plus, three plants so they can grow at home,” he says. “When you want to pick it up, you can choose from Cali or European strain, and we will give you three small seedlings.”
It’s both symbolic and practical: a statement that home cultivation is not only normal—it’s a right.
“So it’s always us,” Michal adds, emphasizing that Grow City intends to remain the beating heart of cultivation culture in the Czech Republic and beyond.
The Spirit of Grow City
What makes Grow City CZ remarkable isn’t just its longevity or scale—it’s its ethos. At its core, the shop is a living archive of European grow culture, a place where knowledge is shared freely, and where Michal’s often-hard-won wisdom becomes community power.
“We are here to educate,” he says. “And to celebrate that finally, finally—we can grow.”
In an era where Europe is slowly waking up to legalization, Prague’s Grow City CZ stands as proof that grassroots persistence, culture, and community can outlast even the toughest prohibition.
And as Michal prepares to hand out seedlings to the next wave of home growers, it’s clear that this new era is one he intends not just to witness—but to lead.
