Spike in sales from Lollapalooza expected Weed stores can't wait for Lolla.
The massive four-day festival, which starts Thursday, is the first big tourism event since pot went legal in Illinois. Retailers are stocking up and staffing up.
Chicago’s weed stores are expecting a spike in sales from Lollapalooza, the first big tourism event since recreational weed became legal in Illinois last year.
Cresco Labs is stocking up and staffing up at its store in River North. “We’re expecting this to be our biggest weekend yet,” said spokesman Jason Erkes.
He says Cresco's Sunnyside store at 436 N. Clark St. will have about 25 percent more inventory than usual, as well as extra staffers working outside stores with tablet computers to help speed the ordering process. It’s also planning a streamlined express menu in anticipation of more out-of-town visitors who aren’t familiar with the company’s product line.
PharmaCann is running a shuttle from its Verilife store in River North at 60 W. Superior St. to Grant Park.
The music festival, which runs Thursday through Sunday at Grant Park, is expected to attract about 100,000 attendees each day. Like many other big Chicago tourism events, such as the Air & Water Show, Lollapalooza was canceled last year because of COVID-19.
Marijuana sales began Jan. 1, 2020, but downtown stores such as Cresco, MOCA and PharmaCann weren’t open before the lockdown, so weed companies can't predict exactly how much more in sales they'll see.
“We’re expecting an uptick for our West Loop location for sure,” said Abigail Watkins, head of marketing for Dispensary 33, which recently opened a store at 1152 W. Randolph St. The West Loop location attracts more out-of-state customers than its Andersonville location. “We’re going to staff up.”
Big events can give weed sales a lift. Average daily sales of recreational marijuana statewide rose 9 percent in April, on top of a 22 percent gain in March. The boost reflects buyers marking April 20, the cannabis equivalent of Black Friday. Average daily sales dropped 2 percent in May. Research firm BDSA said it expects Lolla will provide "a sizable boost" to Chicago-area dispensaries.