design:retail - May/June 2020 - 33

"We are in a big expansion mode to increase our
footprint. That is where our priority is right now,"
he said.
The flagship design established key elements-
the art gallery waiting area, projection tunnel and
retail pods- that are easily adapted to any location,
whether in the heart of a retail district or a more
remote location.
"It is less about location and more about experience," Yi explains. "If you offer people a reason
to come, then location matters less. And from a
business standpoint, it is great if you don't have to
spend a ton of money on prime real estate. We don't
have to be on Rodeo Drive. We can be in a gritty,
industrial area and people will still come." For
Yi, the most important aspect is that each retail
location reflects the culture of the area and community. That is why art plays such a key role in the
retail design.
Shryne Group will continue to explore ways to
influence, inspire and innovate the cannabis dispensary experience, including functions such
as BOPIS (currently in development) and other
customer-focused services. More than elevating the
cannabis experience, they believe in adding value
to the shopping experience and delivering superior
customer service to support the future of brick-andmortar retail.

Elevate
Exclusive night club meets luxury jewelry
store at Elevate, a cannabis dispensary on Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles, designed by High
Road Design Studio. The design uses an interplay
of materials to create an elegant, modern and bold

Sunnyside*
Cresco Labs, a national cannabis company, is
on a mission to make cannabis shopping simple
with its first national retail brand, Sunnyside*.
Described as a new kind of cannabis shop, the
intent is to provide convenience for the savvy customer, while focusing on creating a welcoming
and educational experience for new users. Cresco
Labs has infused the Sunnyside* brand into 10
existing locations (six in Illinois and four in New
York). Coming this spring and early summer,
Sunnyside* will open a store in Danville, relocate
its Buffalo Grove and Wrigleyville dispensaries to
larger locations in the Chicago area, and debut a

environment. The glass storefront provides street
views of the dramatic black-and-white interior, giving the dispensary experience a new level of visibility. A wall of stacked white quartz blurs the lines between exterior and interior, and the raw edge detail
accents this entry sequence with a touch of sparkle.

fully branded retail experience. The design will
offer a light, airy and inviting interior with pops of
the signature Sunnyside* orange, as well as a few
community-inspired brand moments that will be
sure to be shared on Instagram. The brand will be
adding three more locations in Illinois, bringing
the total to 10 Sunnyside* dispensaries, as well as
converting medical dispensaries-one in Arizona,
three in Pennsylvania and one in Massachusetts-
to Sunnyside*. Stay tuned to see how Sunnyside*
fulfills its mission to share the benefits of cannabis
in an environment that is welcoming to all.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CRESCO LABS

Inside, a series of illuminated thresholds creates a
forced perspective that guides customers through
the 1,900-sq.-ft. space. These spatial transitions
allowed private niches to be created just out of view,
so customers feel a sense of privacy and exclusivity.
The interplay of black lacquer and high-gloss white
finishes is accentuated with Amazonite granite surfaces at key touchpoints, such as the floor fixtures.
This natural material provides a pure expression of
the signature brand color-turquoise.
Lighting plays a prominent role in the design,
from the illuminated thresholds and featured
chandeliers to lightbox brand imagery and pushthrough acrylic signage. Taking cues from fine
jewelry merchandising, wall and floor display
cases are also internally lit to elegantly highlight
the product.
Megan Stone, founder and principal of High Road
Design Studio, says: "The project demonstrates how
design can take the cannabis shopping experience
to the level of 'luxury retail.' For this client, it was
about departing from the stereotypical dispensary
impressions and creating a bold new experience
that stands out from the competition."
PHOTO BY RICHARD CADAN PHOTOGRAPHY

design:retail - May/June 2020

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