At today’s official opening of BayBud Cannabis in Barry’s Bay, owner Mike Klobouk thanked those assembled and, before calling on MPP John Yakabuski to cut the ribbon, said, “It’s been a long haul, a lot of work, about a year and a half putting this together. We’ve had great help from the municipality, county government as well as the AGCO and OCS who have been working really hard to help.” As he cut the ribbon, Yakabuski said, “Wishing the very, very best for BayBud here in Barry’s Bay.” Shown above from left: MV Cllr. David Shulist, MV Cllr. Mark Willmer, Diane Klobouk, MV Cllr. Carl Bromwich (giving a thumbs-up from behind her), MPP John Yakabuski, Mike Klobouk, Maxine Dombroskie (Assistant Manager), Steve Brunke (Budtender).
Yakabuski told The Current this was the first opening of a licensed cannabis retailer that he had attended. Looking around the shop, he said, “They’ve done a lot of work here and [they] prepared to make sure that they’re meeting all the necessary requirements for safety and security but also displayed in a very demonstrative manner so people have a good idea of what is available and the range of products.”
Members of Madawaska Valley Council and staff were on hand to celebrate the grand opening, including Councillors Bromwich, Shulist and Willmer, CAO/Clerk Suzanne Klatt, Operations Manager Hilary Kutchkoskie, Recreation & Community Development Coordinator Stephanie Plebon, along with a number of members of the public.
Willmer (inset left, with Klobouk) said, “[It is] probably the classiest-looking store in the area. It really is beautiful.” The Current asked if he had envisioned anything like this when as a member of Council he voted to opt in to cannabis retailing in Madawaska Valley. Willmer replied, “I knew some of the work Mike was putting into it and I knew it would be very nice when it was finished, but it actually exceeds that, really. It’s beautiful and just efficiently set up. It’s really nice. This whole street, too, with the laundry, is really looking much better.”
Klobouk told The Current that business has been good since the “soft” opening last Friday. He said supply of product is not an issue. Because quantities of some items are limited, he has expanded his inventory and now carries 250 cannabis SKUs and 50 accessory SKUs. He said his well-trained staff were able to respond to customers’ questions, but that many people pre-order or know what they want when they come in. He said he was looking forward to being part of the business community in Barry’s Bay and pointed out the flowers sent by the previous owner of the premises, Joan-Marie Potvin, to help celebrate the opening.
