Second cannabis store to open in Sherwood Park
Article content
Cannabis connoisseurs will soon have more options for places they can stop to get their favourite bud in Strathcona County.
Nova Cannabis is opening its first store in the county on Sunday, May 26 at 10 a.m. in the Summerwood area. Nova Cannabis has been itching to get their location in Sherwood Park up and running ever since legalization day last year.
“We just found out in the last few weeks that we were finally granted a license,” explained Marcie Kiziak, managing director for Nova Cannabis and senior vice-president of human resources at Alcanna. “This was one of the first locations we aimed to have open and aimed to build out and we’ve had possession of this location for quite some time, but we’ve had to wait for the licensing.”
Legalization may have happened just over seven months ago, but Nova Cannabis, which is owned by Alcanna, was stuck playing the waiting game at many of its locations because the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (A.G.L.C) did not issue licenses to all the stores that applied.
More licenses are starting to be handed out, but supply is now a problem for some retailers.
“We are starting to see a little bit better supply, which has been a challenge all along. Good sellable product people want to buy has also been a bit of a challenge, but we’re seeing improvements there,” she explained. “Our Whyte Ave store actually sells out of product within a day or two of being stocked.”
The Park’s Summerwood location will be fully stocked with product for opening day.
The products stocked in Nova stores are all supplied through the A.G.L.C., which gets the marijuana from cannabis companies. Kiziak said their stores then get an order form each week and take a guess on which products they should stock in their stores.
This is the company’s first venture into Sherwood Park for cannabis, however, Alcanna does operate a number of liquor businesses in the park, which includes Liquor Depot, Ace Liquor, and Wine and Beyond. Offering more cannabis options in the community is definitely something residents want, noted Kiziak.
“I think the nice thing about this location is that it is very walkable and there are four very distinct communities in the area. You’ve got Summerwood, Emerald Hills, Lakeland, and Davidson Creek, it is all very walkable and as people start to come here to get their product, there are a lot of other amenities here. There’s a grocery store, drug store, liquor store, banks, a restaurant — it is really a full-serve location.”
The company’s goal is to make sure every visitor to their store feels safe, comfortable and has a good experience.
Cannabis packaging recycling program proves popular for Nova Cannabis
A major concern for many legal pot users is the plastic waste that is created from the products they purchase. Kiziak said the Sherwood Park store is one of the first to have a program in place to tackle that issue on opening day.
“It is one of the most regular pieces of feedback we get is around recycling and we’re now trying to solve that issue,” she explained. “We offer recycling for any packaging for any of the products that we sell.”
The company developed the recycling program over the past seven months since legalization day and the response has been outstanding.
“In Sherwood Park, things like clamshells and that sort of thing are no longer recyclable and the fact that we’re taking marijuana packaging and managing that for them in the background, it is something people seem to really appreciate.”
The big opening is going to be a more low-key affair than other openings the company has done over the past seven months.
“At this particular location, we’re trying to be very respectful of the neighbourhoods and people around us so we probably won’t have the same type of party we’ve had at other stores, but we’re going to make sure people know we’re here in a respectful way,” she explained. “We’re opening on a Sunday, which is kind of an odd day, so I’m not sure (how many people will show up), but I think we will definitely get a lot of interest.”
She joked that anytime they are at any location that isn’t open, but working to get the store ready, eager customers knock on the door, asking if they are open yet.
The Nova Cannabis store, which is located near Lakeland Drive and Clover Bar Road, is the second cannabis store to open in Strathcona County. The first was Fire and Flower, which is on Lakeland Drive off Broadmoor Boulevard.
twitter.com/travisdosser
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.