A Prince Albert business owner and his partner have a chance to open a cannabis store in Rosetown (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Cannabis retail

Province giving some runners up a second chance with cannabis stores

Sep 12, 2019 | 12:51 PM

A Prince Albert business owner has a new opportunity in the cannabis industry.

Duane Braaten, who owns Advantage Real Estate Services along with his business partner and pharmacist Dixeshkumar Patel are permit holders for a cannabis store in Rosetown after the original applicant was unsuccessful.

Braaten said it was quite the feeling when he found out the news.

“Gob smacked, surprised, you know totally surprised. I just got back from a month in Europe and it was quite a surprise to come back to, [I’m] just blindsided to be honest with you,” he said.

Braaten estimated him and Patel put in for permits in around 12 different communities, including in P.A. He said he was frustrated when he didn’t get the chance to open up in his home community.

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“Obviously a little disgruntled considering we’ve got a building that could accommodate it, but that’s business, you know. Luck of the draw, we’re flattered to be in the hunt,” he said.

Looking forward, the P.A. entrepreneur said he and his partner are looking at a time period ranging from three to six months in terms of getting the doors open. There’s a few more items on the checklist, specifically licensing requirements from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) and ensuring the business abides by local bylaws.

“You’ve got lots of considerations in opening this to make sure everything’s compliant,” he said.

Braaten said his experience thus far with SLGA has been a positive one. On the municipal level, officials in Rosetown have been receptive to the opening of a cannabis shop and also pleasant to deal with, he said.

“Couldn’t have picked a better community,” he said.

As for staying competitive, Braaten said there are some challenges ahead as many of the province’s stores are owned by larger corporations with many resources. But Braaten and his partner do have a strategy to compete.

“We’re hoping that the small business owners can succeed and that we can collaborate with micro growers that offer a commodity that the larger corporations aren’t,” he said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@mjhskcdn