Kitchener could get 2nd retail cannabis store while Guelph's store disqualified
A numbered company has proposed a store in downtown Kitchener
The City of Kitchener could see a second cannabis store open up shop, after 12 prospective retailers were disqualified from the application process for not submitting documents required by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and a thirteenth withdrew its application.
That opened a spot for a numbered company, 2208292 Alberta Ltd., to be bumped from the wait list.
The company now has the opportunity to apply for a licence to set up a retail outlet at 73 King Street West in downtown Kitchener. A "Zoup" store used to be located there.
Landlord Frank Voisin, the president of Voisin Capital, told CBC the company had signed conditional offers to lease the spot with at least five cannabis companies, while over 40 applications put the address down on spec.
"There were a lot of people who put the site down, and if they won the process then they would have come to us to try to strike a deal," said Voisin.
"We were happy that the group that was selected to move forward is one that we were aware of."
Ten business days to file
AGCO spokesperson Raymond Kahnert told CBC the new successful cannabis lottery winners now have to submit their required financial information and regulatory requirements.
"Those that were advised that they're invited to join the list of selected applicants have 10 working days from the first day of business after their notification," said Kahnert.
Another applicant using the name "Patricia, Gertrude, Donnelly" is still in the running to open a store in Kitchener at 589 Fairway Road S. If accepted, the retail store would share a plaza with Shoeper, Marshalls and State and Main Kitchen and Bar.
This group continues to the next step of the licence process, at which point the applicant has to meet all legal and regulatory requirements. That includes police and background checks on the applicants.
An applicant known as "John Reynolds" had originally been invited to apply to open a store in Guelph but has since been disqualified.