The province hopes to have two cannabis retail stores open in Greater Victoria next year.
After getting approval in June to open its first location in Saanich at Uptown shopping centre, the Liquor Distribution Branch has applied to the City of Victoria for a rezoning application to open a cannabis store in the Bay Centre.
An LDB spokesperson said the process is in the preliminary stages, though they hope to be able to open in the late spring or early summer next year.
In its application to the city, the LDB notes the Bay Centre is an ideal site for a store because it is in an existing retail centre with strong anchor tenants, is easily accessible to customers, is not expected to adversely affect traffic in the surrounding area and is located outside any sensitive-use buffers established under City of Victoria policy.
The store would be 1,758 square feet, with 718 square feet used for the retail operation.
“All B.C. Cannabis Stores are designed to be bright, clean, welcoming and professional, while creating a safe and favourable alternative to purchasing non-medical cannabis from the illicit market,” said LDB spokesperson Viviana Zanocco.
“Staff are committed to keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth, and will employ a strict two-ID check for people who look under 30, which ensures only those over the age of 19 enter the store.”
The store at Uptown would be the sixth government retail cannabis location on the Island.
Since legalization in 2018, the LDB has opened B.C. Cannabis Store retail locations in 20 communities.
In its application letter to the City of Victoria, the LDB noted it expects to have eight unionized staff at the Bay Centre store, and all employees will undergo enhanced security screening.
Typical hours would be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m.to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
The store, like all B.C. Cannabis Stores, will feature centrally monitored intruder and fire monitoring systems, interior and exterior camera surveillance, locked and tempered glass display cases, secure storage rooms, commercial-grade doors and locks, and security shutters and smash-resistant windows.
