Earlier this month, a new cannabis retailer swung open its doors in 91原创.

But there was some confusion as to its location.

In a press release, the provincial government鈥檚 BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) said, not once but twice, that the new store was situated inside Willowbrook Shopping Centre.

A visit to the mall last weekend, to search out the store for photos, proved frustrating.

Even queries at customer services offered no resolution. Google searched and no clarity. Emails to Willowbrook鈥檚 parent company were not returned 鈥� understandably, since it was the weekend. When they did get back to me early in the week, we had a chuckle about the mistake.

Turns out the new cannabis store is in the Willowbrook neighbourhood of 91原创, but actually many blocks away from Willowbrook Shopping Centre.

BC Cannabis Stores (BCCS) opened its latest store in 91原创 on Wednesday, March 15 in the same strip mall as Best Buy and the new Hockey Shop 鈥� just a few doors down from Popeye鈥檚.

The government shop offers a range of products including edibles, extracts, topicals, dried cannabis flower, oils, capsules, and pre-rolls to customers 19 years and older, said Kevin Satterfield, director of cannabis retail operations for LDB.

鈥淲e look forward to serving our customers in the 91原创 area, as we begin our tenure in the community,鈥� Satterfield said in the release, offering some assurances.

鈥淜eeping cannabis away from youth is BC Cannabis Stores鈥� top priority. We have developed comprehensive social responsibility material to educate customers on the importance of ensuring young people do not have access to cannabis,鈥� he added.

As well the stores are designed to create a safe and favourable alternative for adults to purchasing cannabis from the illicit market.

The 2,048-square-foot Willowbrook-area store is staffed by five full-time and eight part-time employees.

BCCS is operated by the LDB, which is the sole wholesaler and public retailer of non-medical cannabis, Satterfield explained. It contributes more than $1.1 billion annually to the province, which helps provide funding for public services like health care and education.

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Some have yet to discover this huge retailer

If you鈥檙e visiting the above mentioned strip mall any time soon, you might notice another change.

The space once occupied by Home Outfitters has since been filled.

The Hockey Shop 鈥� Source for Sports started 33 years ago as a local mom-and-pop store located in Surrey.

It鈥檚 continued to grow through the years, moved around a bit 鈥� including temporary digs after a 2017 fire. Through all the years, it鈥檚 become well known as a hockey superstore, but remained true to its roots with everything hockey.

First time through the doors of new in 91原创, after move from the heart of Whalley last month.
Bright, bigger and yeah, a safer area for employees to wander outside.
STORY:

鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)

Owner Chad Purdy announced last summer that the shop was pulling up roots and leaving Surrey and relocating to 91原创 鈥� and specifically a large space.

While the move took a little longer than anticipated, it has now been open for several months in a new 34,000-square-foot mall in the same strip mall as the said new cannabis store.

Undoubtedly, if you鈥檙e looking for anything hockey related, you鈥檒l find it there. I have to tell you, I鈥檝e never seen so many hockey sticks, skates, or jerseys in one place before.

RELATED: Surrey鈥檚 Hockey Shop is moving to 91原创 after 33 years of business in Whalley

Our first week at our new location was a success! We鈥檙e so happy to finally welcome you to our new home. What鈥檚 your favourite part about the new location? 馃憖猬囷笍

鈥� The Hockey Shop (@thehockeyshopbc)

IN RECENT BUSINESS NEWS WITH VIDEO: More eateries opening at Willowbrook mall

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