Meet Vanessa Yee Chan, the captivating purveyor of a new dispensary in SoHo that I happened to be able to experience in-person. This is Alta Dispensary NYC. What makes her so compelling? Vanessa is the only dispensary owner who focuses on women’s wellness. This is not your typical shopping experience because it’s main target customer is female, chic, and has discerning taste. It is also not Vanessa’s first business. She also owns the uber successful Twinkle Playspace located in the very hip area of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Vanessa and I go way back. When I lived in Brooklyn, and nervous with my rainbow baby, I felt solace at Twinkle with my now 11-year old. That business was so ahead of every other playspace. I threw every birthday for my son there, because of her attention to detail and ease for me. She understood her customer. Fast-forward a decade. and she continues growing her empire through the cannabis space. My husband used to have a cannabis practice at his last firm, so this space was not completely foreign to me. I am also a consumer…and not a novice one. Most importantly, I have very good taste and experience (I used to go to Amsterdam often before it was legal in the US).
My first impression of the space was that it was calming. It was clean and the color of a light rose blush was the perfect tone to convey the energy to bring into this space. There is natural wood which compliments the color and also feels grounding when you walk in. There are no iPads for ordering. This is a human experience. A great break from our digital world is a nice touch, and she makes it an interactive experience. To create more community, Alta also hosts events like Bingo, Mah Jong, Breathwork, & Yoga. Alta also hosts various other social events that are meant to bring new customers into a safe space to learn about the benefits of this herb.
What sets her apart as well is that she owns the building. It’s also not her only building in New York. This is the new face of weed, and I love it. Are there the stereotypical weed bros that exist? Of course! But, weed has a new Ambassador and it’s Vanessa Yee Chan. It was not an easy task to get approved. New York City doesn’t make doing business easy, for any business, but this industry is especially difficult. She was smart enough to forge some key relationships, one specifically impressive person in her corner is Assembly Member, Grace Lee, who advocated on her behalf and came to do the ribbon cutting for Alta. Now, THAT is how a girl boss gets it done. Chic stoners can now have a place to go where they can feel totally comfortable.
Alta Dispensary is located at 52 Kenmare St A, New York, NY.
Share this post