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WHAT’S IN STORE: New cannabis and hockey stores open in Langley mall

In this latest business column, the editor ferrets out the true location of a new business

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

But there was some confusion as to its location.

In a press release, the provincial government’s 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’s parent company were not returned – 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 Langley, but actually many blocks away from Willowbrook Shopping Centre.

BC Cannabis Stores (BCCS) opened its latest store in Langley on Wednesday, March 15 in the same strip mall as Best Buy and the new Hockey Shop – just a few doors down from Popeye’s.

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.

“We look forward to serving our customers in the Langley area, as we begin our tenure in the community,” Satterfield said in the release, offering some assurances.

“Keeping cannabis away from youth is BC Cannabis Stores’ 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,” 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’re 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 – Source for Sports started 33 years ago as a local mom-and-pop store located in Surrey.

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

Owner Chad Purdy announced last summer that the shop was pulling up roots and leaving Surrey and relocating to Langley – 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’re looking for anything hockey related, you’ll find it there. I have to tell you, I’ve never seen so many hockey sticks, skates, or jerseys in one place before.

RELATED: Surrey’s Hockey Shop is moving to Langley after 33 years of business in Whalley

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

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