Superette’s newest cannabis dispensary pays playful homage to classic Italian delis
The last AN checked in with Superette, the fast-growing Canadian cannabis purveyor had just opened its fourth retail outpost, a deliriously kitschy space in Ottawa’s Glebe neighborhood that’s design approach entailed throwing a hodgepodge of nostalgia-inducing retail and entertainment environments—Woolworth-style lunch counters, arcades, automats, midway funhouses, and corner candy stores—into an oversized blender and hitting puree.
Fast forward just shy of a year and Superette has now debuted its seventh maximalist storefront at 206 Dupont Street in The Annex, a student enclave in Toronto. The design of the new 500-square-foot store—also dubbed The Annex—pays homage to old-school Italian delis and, in a direct nod to its lively collegiate environs, the “convivial spirit” of campus canteens. (The University of Toronto St. George and George Brown College’s Casa Loma campuses are both located in the immediate neighborhood.)
The throwback-y neighborhood deli vibes are realized through green and white checkered floors, large glass deli cases stocked with Superette products in lieu of cold cuts and cheeses, a cozy bar with stools, and playful-slash-deceptive design props aplenty.
“Cheese shop? Italian deli? Our newest shop is a true reflection of everything we love at Superette,” said Superette co-founder Drummond Munro in a statement. “This highly nostalgic and immersive space is rooted in one of our favorite communities and is a great addition to our growing portfolio.”
In addition to acting as a straightforward cannabis dispensary where customers can purchase smoking accessories, cheeky housewares, and the featured offerings du jour—pre-rolled joints, edibles, vape cartridges, and flower—Superette has envisioned The Annex as a spot where locals can linger and sample their purchases in an atmosphere that combines the “convenience of a corner store and the novelty of a cannabis consumption lounge.” And in a first for the brand, The Annex is positioned as a welcoming spot for of-age students to stick around for a spell to socialize and, yes, study. The presence of free WiFi and window seating encourages customers to saddle up, plug in their laptops, and “work in the same space where they can also legally purchase and consume cannabis.”
Advantageously, two large parks, Sir Winston Churchill Park and Ramsden Park, are also located nearby.
The Annex also features a handful of signature Superette interactive elements including a Munchie Phone that serves as a direct line to the neighboring Jewish deli Rose & Sons for pick-up orders and a Super Slots game where customers can try their luck and win prizes ranging from lighters to big-ticket items like record players. Additional merch for sale includes “bodega-inspired” candles from local candle-maker This Candle Is Lit.
Other recently opened Superette locations in Toronto—now five in total plus the two Ottawa stores with more in the works—include Sip ‘N’ Smoke, a walk-up kiosk located adjacent to Trinity Bellwoods Park that sells infused beverages and pre-rolls, as well as SuperMarket, a grocery store-inspired space housed within a retrofitted shipping container at Stackt Market. First launching in 2019 and subsequently picking up a handful of design and brand identity awards for its cheeky and decidedly very non-clinical approach to cannabis retail, Superette—French for “mini-mart”–is known for what it calls an “inclusive, fun-loving world of weed and fashion” that places a pronounced emphasis on establishing community connections and collaborating with local indie businesses.
