More a living room than clinical office vibe, with classic rock on the playlist and friendly locals, Budding Creations is growing into a really unique business that caters to everything cannabis-related.

With many customers new to (or revisiting) this world, manager Chris Manolescu took care to find staff who know their stuff – and can explain it in a friendly, approachable manner:

“We really want to make people feel comfortable here, and what we’ve seen since we opened, is that the comfort level has gone up fast,” he says.

Budding Creations opened April 18 – the first out of the two retail cannabis shops allowed in Peachland. It’s not a big chain store, adds ‘bud-tender’ Riley Hanson, who works at the front counter.

“A lot of people come in and say ‘well, that was a cool experience,’ and they tell their friends.”

Bud-tenders Riley and Chris (who is also the store manager, on the right) want you to feel welcome! Go ahead and ask anything you’ve wanted to know about the world of cannabis…

And there’s already some steady regulars, Chris adds.

“We’re seeing many of the same faces come in once, twice a week and sometimes for a third time, just to say hello and see if we have anything new. It’s great to see.”

Chris – a veteran of the food and beverage industry, says since getting into the retail cannabis world, he’s been amazed at the variety and evolving nature of the plant and what it offers.

While CBD is the more medicinal side and THC is for more of a recreational effect, he says the two can go hand-in-hand beautifully, and staff are happy to help you figure out what percentage and what product works best.

“The thing I love the most about cannabis is every single part of the plant is used, no matter what they do with it, beginning with hemp on the bottom, all the way up to the concentrates at the top. It’s a unique product,” says Chris.

“I have a lot of pride when I speak about this, and it’s something I didn’t expect.”

The variety within the industry reminds him a lot of the wine world – there’s an option for every taste and price point. We’re lucky here in the Okanagan, of course, because we produce both. And because Budding Creations caters to what their customers want, they really hope you’ll stop by and ask them some questions.

“We can talk about what you want and what you’re looking for,” says Chris.

“And if we don’t have it, and there’s something specific you want, tell us, we’ll bring it in – and if it’s not specific, just tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll dive in and find something for you,” he says.

“Our mission is to continue to build our library around what everybody wants.”

And while Chris is a relatively new Peachlander (he moved here last February), he knows many locals, by working with Chris Rollins and Chrissie Chernoff, who own the Edgewater Pub (and are among the investors in this new retail store). He has nothing but praise for the Budding Creations ownership group, which worked around the clock leading up to their April opening.

“The ownership group and the Allison family – to work with and for them for the last two months, I can say they’ve certainly put us in a position to succeed,’ says Chris.

Some of the Budding Creations ownership group, seen here on opening day.

“And really, the people here make me feel like I’m a Peachlander already.”

Budding Creations (4402 2nd St.) is open seven days a week:

Monday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

They also have a website and you can check them out on Facebook and Instagram!

**This is a Peachland Phoenix business profile, written by Kristen Friesen**