Barrhaven residents thrilled about cannabis store, only slight reservations about clientele
Posted Aug 21, 2019 09:07:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Residents and business owners close to what will be a new cannabis retail shop in a plaza on Strandherd Road are generally pretty happy to welcome their new neighbour.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario held the province's second cannabis store lottery and announced the results, Wednesday. Among the winners was Ethan Stark, who proposed to put a pot store at 4335 Strandherd Drive in Barrhaven. The specific unit is sandwiched between a local cheese retailer and Tutti Frutti.
Dawn Curry-Pelletier co-owns a local breakfast restaurant with her husband Gary and tells 1310 NEWS she's shocked, but happy that someone will be moving next door.
“We've heard rumours that somebody was leasing it out, but now we find out and it's kind of exciting,” said Pelletier.
She's not sure yet if it will be good or bad for business, but she's leaning towards it being a good thing.
“It's hard to say, because we have a lot of families that come here.”
That sentiment was shared by Gitta, an employee at Value Village, which is situated across from the proposed cannabis store.
“There's a lot of families going in and out of Tutti Fruiti and The House of Cheese, and a lot of people come to Value Village,” she explained. “There's a lot of children in the area.”
Gitta did add that, while she does purchase her weed online, the location could be beneficial.
“It doesn't really affect me, but it would make it way more convenient, which would make it a dangerous thing,” said Gitta with a laugh.
Another Barrhaven resident spoke with 1310 NEWS, and said the news of the new cannabis store location was “awesome,” since it will help her business.
“We need more… I'm a massage therapist, I see [marijuana] as a helpful thing for people that are dealing with chronic pain and other health care issues,” said Hannah. “I think it can be really useful when used properly.”
She added that the new shop might help put the community on the map.
“Just says that Barrhaven is maybe becoming a place.”
