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The Central District gets a second pot shop as Ponder opens at 24th and Union

10408718_956712814387781_7547585377064894305_nAs the 15th Ave E pot drama rolls on, a second pot shop in the heart of the Central District has quietly opened without protest or video arcades.

Since August 14th, Ponder has been open sporadically inside a revamped retail space at 24th and Union. Owner John Branch tells CHS he wanted to get the store well stocked before hosting a grand opening, ideally sometime in the next month.

With many shops selling products from the same growers and manufacturers, Branch said he’ll make Ponder stand out through tried-and-true small businesses practices.

“It comes down to good old fashioned retailing,” he said. “Do I like those guys in there, do they carry what I like?”

Ponder will be open for part of the day Friday and most of the day Saturday, Branch said. Look out for more regular hours after Labor Day.

As of this week Ponder holds the bottom sales spot among I-502 retailers in King County with $20 in August sales. Just up Union, Uncle Ike’s reported $1.3 million. The shop, which opened one year ago this month, is the top store in the county by sales and was second in the state overall in August behind only Vancouver’s Main Street Marijuana, according to 502data.com. Uncle Ike’s is a CHS advertiser.

In King County, $3.6 million in pot tax was collected in August (Source: 502data.com)

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Ponder makes 19 retail marijuana shops operating in the city and it is the 34th in the county.

Ponder’s opening has been more than a year in the making. Branch could only move as fast as the permitting process would allow, though he said the state Liquor and Cannabis Board has been helpful and encouraging.

Branch also said he had to make some significant renovations after purchasing the building in October. The space was previously home to a mosque. A year ago, Branch was planning to open his business (then called Mello Times) inside a house on 24th Ave. He eventually moved his target location around the corner and switched the name to Ponder.

“I wanted to find something unique,” he said. “I wanted something that reflects what its like to take cannabis.”

Finding a unique vibe shouldn’t be an problem for Ponder with Uncle Ike’s as the only other nearby competitor. Branch said he wants to create a more laid back atmosphere with live music and a lounge area for customers to peruse the menu.

Ponder’s opening and Uncle Ike’s ongoing strong sales all on a few blocks near 23rd and Union is a version of the “Little Amsterdam” prophecy some predicted as I-502 retail rules and zoning took shape.

As Ponder grows, Branch says he’ll be allowing his bud tenders and store managers to represent the face of the shop. Branch is a patent attorney with the firm Lowe Graham Jones.

Adding a medical marijuana component to Ponder is also something Branch wants to pursue. In April, Gov. Jay Inslee enacted sweeping reforms to the state’s medical marijuana industry, potentially allowing for I-502 shops to sell medical marijuana with lower tax to registered patients.

For more information, visit Ponder on Facebook.

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AJACs
AJACs
8 years ago

I’m hopeful. Granted I’ve only been to 3 shops in Seattle (NWPRC on Minor, Ike’s, and City Canabis) none of them have the comfort, warmth, welcome news and relaxed atmosphere like The Apothecarium in SF.

I understand that there is a bit of a gold rush going on now, but severely limiting the number of folks inside the store at any point reduces the circus like atmosphere I have experienced in Seattle stores and allows the less familiar and timid weed users a chance to relax, explore, and get educated. In the long run that allows us to smarter, more sophisticated and dedicated customers.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
8 years ago
Reply to  AJACs

If you want a more comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, you should try Starbud’s at 23rd and John. It’s a medical dispensary, though, so you will need an authorization letter.

RWK
RWK
8 years ago
Reply to  AJACs

Pot has not been legalized in California, so I assume The Apothecarium is a medical marijuana business. Probably such places are calmer and less crowded than the retail shops, because the latter have a much larger customer base.

AJACs
AJACs
8 years ago
Reply to  RWK

I don’t know if it is by requirement, but they will require folks to queue up outside, keeping the number of people inside the place at a comfortable level. A medical card is $100 and about an hour of your time to get interviewed by an MD to be issued your Rx for it. So everyone who is buying in CA from a dispensary has a “card”.

RWK
RWK
8 years ago
Reply to  AJACs

It sounds like the abuse of the medical marijuana system is just as rampant in California as it has been here. Just pay your money and get a card….it’s pretty much that simple.

HighAboveSeattle.com
8 years ago

Our experience with a marijuana industry begins in 2003, in Amsterdam. As you can imagine we saw many different warm, welcoming, and interesting atmospheres that added to the experience.

If you like The Apothecarium in SF, perhaps you will like Ganja Goddess in SODO?

We wrote this last year based on our experiences:

http://www.highaboveseattle.com/attention-seattle-marijuana-retail-shops-its-all-about-the-experience-just-look-at-the-amsterdam-coffeeshops/

AJACs
AJACs
8 years ago

Thank you!