Solomon’s mesmerizing mural isn’t the only local art on display at SWADE. In fact, most of the decor is the work of St. Louis talent, from the Dave Bour ceiling art to the Jermain Todd reclaimed Douglass fir benches.
“Urban jungle” was the McBride Company’s inspiration behind this funky dispensary in South Portland, Maine. With not-so-subtle simian references (think a graffiti-covered, wheatpaste King Kong, a bloodshot Mona Lisa wearing a monkey head-shaped hat, and Reefer Madness movie posters) outfitting the walls, Grass Monkey is eclectic design at its finest. Plus, there’s no shortage of bespoke art, courtesy of Mural Art & Consulting’s creative director (and renowned street artist) Valentino Mikalef.
Johnnie Rush, the McBride Company’s head of innovation, suggests, “We treated the space as an immersive art gallery with pop culture-inspired sculptures—including our centerpiece, which is a custom six-foot-tall graffiti-laden banana, and hundreds of hanging wood slats with a gradient from green to yellow like a ripening banana—and numerous original paintings.”
In Oakland, California, the McBride Company did the cannabis industry proud with its cleverly outfitted, Victorian-inspired Root’d. Split between a serene and monochromatic retail space complete with creamy beige swathing the floors and walls, glass display cases housing colorful flora, and hidden diffused lighting, and a sweeping midcentury-inspired lounge that would make the cast of Mad Men do a double-take; and a live music venue, Root’d in the 510 proves that stoner culture has evolved.
Family-run and women-founded, Etain Health’s aesthetic is as ethereal as the 5,000-square-foot boutique’s grass is green. Though Etain takes full credit for the product, Irish wellness designer Clodagh is responsible for the outpost’s minimalist creative direction. Complete with a double-height atrium donning a living plant wall, feng shui water accents, and crisp white chandeliers (that comprise hundreds of cannabis leaves), Etain is one of the few places to relax in Manhattan.