Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
The dealer at Victor Steinbrueck Park who says "This is legal marijuana!" is wrong, but the two state-licensed marijuana stores now open in the core of downtown Seattle are right on the money.
Have a Heart, between First Avenue and Second Avenue on Blanchard Street, and Herban Legends, at Bell Street and Elliott Avenue, are hoping to become staples of the downtown cannabis consumer's shopping. But the stores are within walking distance of Pike Place Market; Herban Legends is across the skybridge from Pier 66 and all those massive cruise ships. There's bound to be a boom in business when the tourists are in town.
"When a cruise ship comes in," said Carleen Smith, one of Legends' managers, "it looks like a giant hotel has set up. We know then it's going to be a busy day."
And it's high time the city had pot shops where the bulk of Northwest tourists land. Herban Legends opened on April 20, while Have a Heart opened on Tuesday, July 12.
Both stores want to serve the residents of downtown, but the management of each also knows tourists are going to be a major part of their drug traffic ... er, foot traffic. The staff at Herban Legends surmised -- in a group discussion with the security guy at the door who sees all the IDs -- that upwards of 80 percent of their customers are from out of town. Many are international travelers.
"It's the first time they have been in any type of store like this," said Smith. "You can see the amazement on their faces."
They are surprised that they only need prove they are over 21 to get in. Once inside, they ask a lot of questions. They are surprised at having a regular ol' retail experience, including a receipt.
Ryan Kunkel, the CEO of Have a Heart, said his store was expensive to get started as well as a risk because he invested in the space before the city changed the distances marijuana retailers could be from parks.
On Jan. 12, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray signed zoning rules that allowed marijuana retailers in the downtown zones to be as close as 250 feet to parks, child care centers, libraries, etc. Kunkel said the downtown dog park was within the previous rule of 500 feet, which is still the limit in the rest of Seattle, from his store. But once that law changed, they were in business.
Kunkel said he hopes the mainstay of his business is locals and also medical marijuana patients. His group ran several medical marijuana storefronts prior to the law changes. But, he added, tourists "will be most of it."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Hey Tourists! Downtown Seattle Finally Has Legal Weed Stores
Author: Jake Ellison
Contact: Seattle Pi
Photo Credit: Grant Hindsley
Website: Seattle Pi
Have a Heart, between First Avenue and Second Avenue on Blanchard Street, and Herban Legends, at Bell Street and Elliott Avenue, are hoping to become staples of the downtown cannabis consumer's shopping. But the stores are within walking distance of Pike Place Market; Herban Legends is across the skybridge from Pier 66 and all those massive cruise ships. There's bound to be a boom in business when the tourists are in town.
"When a cruise ship comes in," said Carleen Smith, one of Legends' managers, "it looks like a giant hotel has set up. We know then it's going to be a busy day."
And it's high time the city had pot shops where the bulk of Northwest tourists land. Herban Legends opened on April 20, while Have a Heart opened on Tuesday, July 12.
Both stores want to serve the residents of downtown, but the management of each also knows tourists are going to be a major part of their drug traffic ... er, foot traffic. The staff at Herban Legends surmised -- in a group discussion with the security guy at the door who sees all the IDs -- that upwards of 80 percent of their customers are from out of town. Many are international travelers.
"It's the first time they have been in any type of store like this," said Smith. "You can see the amazement on their faces."
They are surprised that they only need prove they are over 21 to get in. Once inside, they ask a lot of questions. They are surprised at having a regular ol' retail experience, including a receipt.
Ryan Kunkel, the CEO of Have a Heart, said his store was expensive to get started as well as a risk because he invested in the space before the city changed the distances marijuana retailers could be from parks.
On Jan. 12, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray signed zoning rules that allowed marijuana retailers in the downtown zones to be as close as 250 feet to parks, child care centers, libraries, etc. Kunkel said the downtown dog park was within the previous rule of 500 feet, which is still the limit in the rest of Seattle, from his store. But once that law changed, they were in business.
Kunkel said he hopes the mainstay of his business is locals and also medical marijuana patients. His group ran several medical marijuana storefronts prior to the law changes. But, he added, tourists "will be most of it."
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Hey Tourists! Downtown Seattle Finally Has Legal Weed Stores
Author: Jake Ellison
Contact: Seattle Pi
Photo Credit: Grant Hindsley
Website: Seattle Pi
