Stylish, lavish, and accessible—founders Nigel Dandridge and David Berger want to dispel preconceived notions around cannabis use.
For Nigel Dandridge and David Berger , the journeying to open Ivy Hall has been a long one . The two founders have dreamt of run adispensarytogether over the course of their friendly relationship that cross over a ten . The brace , both born and raised in Chicago , want to bring home the bacon a singular hemp experience — one that comes through in every velvet - cushioned lounge chairperson and each dazzling , hot pink accent luminosity . Dandridge and Berger ’s lavishIvy Hall , open at last , is as thoughtfully designed as it is dedicated to residential district backup within theIllinois marihuana market .
recognize their dream did n’t happen overnight , however . After much delay , Dandridge and Berger qualify for and are recipients of an Illinois social equity dispensary licence . The entrepreneurs , and many like them , had been waiting for this specific license allocated for businesses that were bulk owned by people who ’d lived in disfranchised arena or had preceding charges for cannabis - link crimes that are no longer illegal . Not everyone agreed .
A series of lawsuits sprung up from line fence the illegitimacy of these specifications that delay the issuance of any social equity licenses for old age . Those causa weresettled or strike downand the first of the social fairness licensees have opened their doors . Two doors , in fact : Green Rosein River North , and Ivy Hall in Bucktown , neighboring to the artsy Wicker Park neighborhood .
Ivy Hall Dispensary|Photo courtesy of Ivy Hall
This “ sensory dispensary ” — word that are literally displayed in prominent inscription on the exterior of the shop — shake all signified indeed . Multihued Interior of mint and emerald welcome you in , while warm light dot with splash of neon pinkish perk up the visual intrigue . There are comfortable leather and suede couches so chic that you might terminate up asking where you’re able to encounter one for your own apartment . sorcerous gold accents give a luxe vibe without getting ostentatious , and there ’s a vintage flavor to the art deco - style trappings and reflective tin cap that is reminiscent of the roaring 1920s .
esthetic are self-aggrandising here , yes , but so is hearty cannabis education . Once you ’ve dart your ID , you ’ll be greeted by a budtender at The Sensory Bar , a counter fill up with grab - n - olfactory sensation jolt of common ganja aromas and terpenes . You ca n’t reek the actual flower by law , so they recreate the experience by declare oneself scents that relate to strains on the shelves , such as earthly , woody , fruity , or floral Federal Reserve note . Whatever smell unspoiled to you may point what variety of cannabis will make youfeel good . Bottles of all-important petroleum for vernacular terpene are available to sniff as well , so you may get a sense of the smell of myrcene , limonene , eucalyptol , et cetera to facilitate your selection process .
If you have question about specific products or trying cannabis for the sentence — or are just looking for a undecomposed hemp educational activity — budtenders are glad to chat over the sound and talk through all of your concerns . They desire to make “ a judgment - gratis zone ” that grant anyone , pro or beginner , to feel well-fixed shopping for cannabis .
While they set out to create an experiential retail environment with tender approachability , the founders hope that Ivy Hall ’s serious-minded Interior can aid break out down some of the diachronic perception of marijuana as well . Aside from actuate past the long - hold stigma of cannabis as a scary — at least lazy and frowned upon — drug , few dispensaries feel all that welcome when you walk deep down . The majority of dispensaries have an interchangeable , clinical vibe of fluorescent lights and high surety spyglass displays . Operating a new kind of cannabis shop in a historical construction allows for Dandridge and Berger to address these stereotypes in multiple agency .
“ Looking at the cannister ceiling at our Bucktown location — original to this building built in 1894 — the account and appealingness are patent . We want an surround that squeeze the truth while uplift one ’s spirit , ” says Dandridge .
When adjudicate what to call the shop class , Dandridge and Berger ’s mission was to create a neck of the woods boutique that engage all the sentiency to cover the entire experience of cannabis .
Founders Nigel Dandridge and David Berger|Photo courtesy of Ivy Hall
“ A hall is a place we associate with mass gathering , whether it ’s for meeting , concerts , benefits , meals , or other events — it ’s a station where people celebrate , exchange thought , and history can be made , ” Berger shares . “ Ivy — a beautiful evergreen perennial — is a pernicious nod to the cannabis plant and the overarching beauty of the natural cosmos . ”
Although design and accessibility are key for Berger and Dandridge , the dup see Ivy Hall as their way to contribute to a booming Chicago biotic community , whether that ’s through sharing their hall to host a soda - up , helping facilitate a city - wide mural contest , or stocking goods from small business like totes and tee fromBuy Weed from Women .
“ We wanted to avoid the sterile , rigid experiences we ’d had when visit other dispensaries over the years in favour of something more well-heeled , ” tell Dandridge . “ Where it ’s not about feelingit , it ’s about feelinggood . ”
