Our Commitment to Serving the Bucktown Community and Beyond
At Village Brands, we understand that accessibility and convenience are paramount when you’re looking for premium cannabis products. Our service area extends throughout Illinois, New Jersey & Missouri, with our flagship location strategically positioned to serve Bucktown and the surrounding neighborhoods. We’ve carefully selected our location to ensure that whether you’re a longtime resident or just passing through, you can easily access the highest quality cannabis products and the expertise that comes with them.
Our doors are open to anyone seeking a different kind of cannabis experience. We serve customers from all walks of life, from young professionals exploring cannabis for the first time to seasoned enthusiasts who appreciate our carefully curated selection. Our location near Chicago makes us an ideal destination for urban dwellers seeking quality without the hassle of traveling far from home. We’ve positioned ourselves as more than just another recreational dispensary; we’re a community hub where education, quality, and connection intersect.
Expanding Access Throughout Broadview & Chicago, IL, Hoboken, NJ & St. Louis, MO
When Dan created Village Brands in 2019, the vision was clear: bring exceptional cannabis retail experiences to communities that deserved better than what big corporations were offering. Starting as a company acquiring licenses in limited market states, we recognized early on that each community has unique needs and preferences. Our service area strategy reflects this understanding, focusing on establishing deep roots in the communities we serve rather than simply expanding for expansion’s sake.
The retail side of our business began with a simple observation: big corporations weren’t connecting with people in the market. While we operate across multiple states, our approach remains distinctly local. We’re multi-state but it’s “home to you” – this philosophy drives every decision about where and how we serve our customers. Each Village Brands location becomes part of the fabric of its community, adapting to local preferences while maintaining our unwavering commitment to quality and education.
Our expansion strategy prioritizes accessibility for diverse communities. We understand that cannabis users come from every neighborhood, every background, and every walk of life. By establishing our presence in areas like Bucktown, we ensure that quality cannabis products and knowledgeable guidance are available to urban communities that have historically been underserved or overlooked by the cannabis industry.
Meeting You Where You Are
Transportation and convenience play crucial roles in how we define our service area. We recognize that not everyone has easy access to private transportation, which is why we’ve chosen locations with strong public transit connections. Our proximity to major thoroughfares and public transportation hubs means that customers throughout the area can reach us without difficulty. We’ve analyzed traffic patterns, parking availability, and pedestrian accessibility to ensure that visiting our marijuana dispensary is as seamless as possible.
Our service area considerations extend beyond simple geography. We think about the rhythms of the communities we serve – when people need access to cannabis products, what their shopping patterns look like, and how we can best accommodate different schedules and lifestyles. Whether you’re stopping by after work, making a weekend trip, or incorporating a visit into your regular errands, we’ve structured our operations to fit into your life rather than forcing you to adjust to ours.
A Heritage of Service Excellence
Our commitment to service has deep roots that trace back to 2011 when Dan and Al Harrington founded Viola Brands. Al, an ex-NBA player who played for the Denver Nuggets, discovered cannabis’s potential when his grandmother Viola was suffering from glaucoma and high blood pressure. Though initially resistant, she tried cannabis and saw changes instantly. This personal experience shaped our understanding that serving customers means more than just selling products – it means changing lives.
From those early days servicing people with cancer and HIV in Colorado’s medical market, we’ve expanded our reach while never losing sight of why we started. Our growth from Colorado to Oregon, and since 2020, launching in over twelve different markets including Canada, has taught us that every community deserves access to quality cannabis products and the education to use them effectively. The Viola Brands products we proudly sell within Village Brands stores represent this commitment to both quality and accessibility.
Building Community Connections
The name Village Brands comes from the saying “It takes a village to raise a child,” reflecting our belief that cannabis retail should be about community building, not just transactions. Our service area strategy emphasizes creating spaces where locals exploring Hoboken, industry insiders, and even loyal Knicks fans all feel equally welcome. We’re not your ordinary flower shop – we’re a gathering place where cannabis culture meets community pride.
Quality Curation Across Our Service Area
We carefully curate our menu based on quality and experience, ensuring that every customer in our service area has access to products that meet our exacting standards. Our selection process involves:
- Rigorous testing protocols: Every product undergoes comprehensive quality assessments before reaching our shelves
- Relationship building with cultivators: We work directly with growers who share our commitment to excellence
- Customer feedback integration: We continuously refine our selection based on what our community wants and needs
- Educational alignment: We choose products that allow us to educate customers about different consumption methods and effects
- Consistency maintenance: We ensure reliable availability of customer favorites while introducing exciting new options
Our curation philosophy extends to how we serve different segments within our service area. We recognize that cannabis needs vary widely – from those seeking relief from specific conditions to recreational users exploring new experiences. Our knowledgeable staff receives ongoing training to provide personalized recommendations that match individual preferences and needs.
Future Service Expansion
Looking ahead, our service area development focuses on thoughtful growth that maintains our community-centered approach. We’re exploring opportunities to better serve existing customers while welcoming new communities into the Village Brands family. Our expansion considerations always prioritize areas where we can make meaningful contributions to both cannabis access and community development.
The cannabis industry continues evolving rapidly, with regulatory changes and market dynamics creating new opportunities to serve communities that have been waiting for legal access. We remain committed to being at the forefront of these developments, ensuring that our service area grows in ways that benefit both our customers and the broader communities we serve. Our vision positions Village Brands as more than just a place to buy cannabis – we’re a lifestyle brand that blends innovation, culture, and quality into every interaction.
