Amazing Retail Designs
Retailers across North America are upping their game, enlisting A-list design firms from inside and outside the cannabis industry to stand out and to keep customers coming back for years to come.
While some of the following stores reside in well-established markets and set the bar high for competitors, others operate in newer markets and act as ambassadors for the entire industry.
Marijuana Venture spoke with the leading designers behind many of these retail stores to get insight on the design decisions and why they work in their respective markets.
Hatch
Wheeling, Illinois
In Wheeling, Illinois, Hatch is a perfect example of how an experienced retail design firm can repurpose an existing building into an exciting, modern retail experience. DMAC Architecture & Interiors redesigned a former TGI Fridays’ distinct, but gaudy, interior and exterior into a 5,800-square-foot dispensary that celebrates cannabis culture without remaining in the past.
Sarah Zelman, Hatch’s director of marketing, describes the store as a counter to the claustrophobic, pressurized shopping experiences at many cannabis retailers.
“We really just wanted to make a space that felt very welcoming, very clean, and made sense operationally,” Zelman says. “So you can really shop and take your time and look at everything.”
Hatch allows customers to shop independently, welcoming them in with a spacious gallery of display tables, instead of funneling visitors toward the cashiers.
Hatch also made room for a large lounge area that is open to guests who want to relax with friends and enjoy the atmosphere. The company uses the lounge area for in-store events that range from educational seminars to cooking with cannabis tutorials.