Cannabis Retailer ‘Choom’ Opens Flagship Retail Location in Vancouver [Photos]

NEW CHOOM FLAGSHIP. PHOTO: CHOOM

By Jessica Finch

Choom, one of Canada’s leading recreational cannabis retailers, has launched a flagship retail store in the Olympic Village neighbourhood of Vancouver, B.C. (191 West 2nd Avenue).

The company — which has already seen great success in Ontario and Alberta — is expanding its reach despite the current economic climate as a result of COVID-19.

Choom is known for its elevated customer experience through its implementation of curated retail environments and in-store educators, all of whom are trained to provide a personalized client experience.

The newest Choom location will highlight cannabis favourites from local, B.C. licensed producers, as well as products by some of North America’s leading cannabis brands. Brands including Whistler Cannabis, San Raphael ’71, and Dosist, will all be amongst the Olympic Village Choom lineup.

“Today, the Choom team celebrates another exciting milestone with the opening of our flagship store in our hometown of Vancouver, B.C.,” said Corey Gillon, CEO of Choom. “Thanks to the world-class, retail expertise of our team, we are excited to share a reinvigorated version of the Choom brand - one that is founded on providing an elevated retail experience, positioning Choom as a leader in the retail cannabis space. From the novice user to the more experienced, our goal with Choom is to create a unique, welcoming environment for our customers that is rooted in our company’s ethos.”

The space was designed by Vancouver-based Cutler and millwork was manufactured by Peregrine.

INTERIOR OF NEW CHOOM FLAGSHIP. PHOTOS: CHOOM

Outfitted with premium furnishings, Choom’s new Vancouver flagship store will provide customers with the usual elevated experience previously known to customers in Alberta and Ontario.

To date, Choom operates 18 retail locations across three provinces: Alberta, Ontario, and B.C.. With an aggressive growth strategy to increase its national footprint planned for the next three to five years, Choom’s newest B.C. location follows closely behind the company’s most recent acquisition of a flagship location in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

The Canadian brand notes that its Olympic Village location is only the first new store to open in B.C. and that there are six stores planned for the province in the near future.

Inspired by Hawaii’s “Choom Gang” – a group of buddies in Honolulu during the 1970’s who loved to smoke weed – or as the locals called it, “Choom”, the brand encourages cannabis consumers to embrace an active lifestyle — one that is inspired by the social activities and pastimes of the famous “Choom Gang”.

The fast-expanding retail cannabis company has flourished in the wake of Canada’s cannabis legalization in 2018, and today Choom has one of the largest store networks in Canada, with the company’s sophisticated and inclusive culture and vast product offering no doubt having much to do with its continued success.

SLIDESHOW (swipe)

INTERIOR OF NEW CHOOM FLAGSHIP. PHOTOS: CHOOM

In the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Choom’s flagship location will offer click-and-collect services to all customers, allowing purchases to be made both in-store and online.

In support of Canadian health authority recommendations, the store will be actively practicing social distancing and will adhere to elevated safety and sanitization measures to protect the health and safety of customers and in-store employees.

Cannabis retail has remained an ‘essential service’ in British Columbia amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring profitability within the sector despite the surrounding shutdowns. In other parts of the country, such as Ontario, the ‘essentiality’ of cannabis retail was revoked in April after being deemed ‘essential’ at the beginning of the COVID shutterings. Retail insider recently reported on Friendly Stranger Holding Group and its plans for expansion across the GTA and potentially the entire province. Clearly, as Canada makes its transition to the ‘new normal’, cannabis retail will continue to proliferate.

Jessica Finch is a writer and editor based in Toronto. She holds a BA in English and Psychology and is a graduate of Ryerson University’s Publishing program. She has extensive managerial experience in the food service industry, and is interested in exploring innovations within this sector and other retail environments. Email: jessica@retail-insider.com

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