London's first retail pot shop could open in west-end plaza

London's first brick-and-mortar pot shop could open up in a west-end plaza located at Oxford Street and Wonderland Road.

An application for a cannabis retail licence was filed for Central Cannabis at 666 Wonderland Road North, Unit 6b, and posted to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) website.

It is now undergoing a two-week public review process that allows individuals to file submissions until February 26.

Central Cannabis was the second application filed for the west region, with The Niagara Herbalist in St. Catharines being the first.

The London applicant was among seven people or companies selected in the west region after winning Ontario's retail licence lottery back in January. A total of 25 names were drawn among 17,000 applicants.

'It's a new world'

The plaza is home to several commercial spaces including Little Caesars Pizza, Ring A Wing and the Stag Shop. It previously housed a former sports bar called The Oarhouse and the restaurant McGinnis Landing.

An online listingfor a vacancy in the plaza byTeamForsterReal EstateProfessionals said the area sees traffic of up to 30,000 vehicles on a daily basis. The listing said the property permits a wide range of uses including financial, personal service and retail.

Steve Lehman is the councillor for that area located in Ward 8. When asked about the proposed shop, he said he's "ambivalent" about it.

"I don't think it's good news or bad news. It's just reality of where we are at," he said.

"It's a new thing for all of us as we head down this path It's a new world. We go to the store and we get our bottle of scotch or bottle of wine for tonight's dinner and you know I guess cannabis will be allowed now," he added.

Back in December, city politicians voted to recommend opting in to allow cannabis stores to operate in London.

Lehman said, if the retail licence application is approved, the new store "will be under a microscope to see how it impacts London and our community."

He said he's sure he'll hear mixed reviews from the community.

The province's cannabis stores are expected to open on April 1.