West Seattle’s second licensed marijuana store will likely be the first to open

(WSB photo: 1416 SW Roxbury, in which Origins will open)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The second recreational-marijuana store licensed in West Seattle will likely be the first one to open.

A week and a half ago, we reported on the first store license, for 5440 California SW. That building is set to undergo some remodeling and proprietor Maryam Mirnateghi didn’t expect to be open for up to two months.

Now, the second West Seattle license has been granted, for Origins at 1416 SW Roxbury, #D – and its proprietor told us today that he expects Origins will be open within two weeks, as soon as the city grants a permit to change the use from a medical office.

Sean Miller explains that they formerly operated a medical-marijuana outlet in the same building, as well as one in South Park, both now closed. Origins will be licensed for medical marijuana as well as recreational, but Miller says that component doesn’t go into effect until July.

His company, he says, is being evaluated for two other licenses, including a location over the city/county line but just blocks away in White Center, at 9823 15th SW, and one on the Eastside.

Asked what will set his store apart, Miller said, “The biggest thing that we’re trying to do with Origins is, bring a better name and a better feel to the industry. Right now you walk into a recreational store and you feel kind of dirty and like you’ve done something wrong before you’ve done anything … We’re trying to create an atmosphere like a Starbucks, you walk in and feel really welcome.” He says that includes a “very high-end build … with slates and cork floors. When people look at it, they think it’s a jewelry store because of the level of finish. We want to do that with multiple locations and legitimize the industry,” for customers of all income levels.

He’s expecting to be open along the lines of 10 am-8 pm Mondays-Fridays, 10 am-6 pm Saturdays and Sundays. No website yet, he says.

P.S. As mentioned in our previous story, you can look for other application locations on Mark’s map – one still pending in West Seattle is the site of longtime medical provider Northwest Patient Resource Center at 35th/Roxbury.

cj February 23, 2016 (9:23 pm)

Just curious but is that location actually in Seattle or just south of it.

WSB February 23, 2016 (9:31 pm)

It is within city limits. Wouldn’t have called it West Seattle if it wasn’t. North side of Roxbury. The south side is where the county starts (technically, in the middle of Roxbury).

Joe Szilagyi February 24, 2016 (10:12 am)

Good lucky timing for the one at 35th & Roxbury since the illegal charter schools initiative was thrown out by the Supreme Court. Now if they convert and that site later does become a school, they’ll be grandfathered in. And before anyone says it’s awful to have a marijuana store across from a school: one of my schools growing up had a liquor store kitty corner from it in Connecticut. We didn’t all become raging drunks or have drinking problems.

Cynical girl February 24, 2016 (11:36 am)

I agree with you Joe S. The dispensary I go to has special deals and on tuesdays, it’s teacher day and they get a discount.

Teacher's husband February 24, 2016 (11:22 pm)

Cynical girl, is that a recreational store? I may know a teacher or two, so it would be nice to pass on what the store is. Teachers deserve all of the discounts and relaxation they can get!

BTW – Alcohol doesn’t get a pass when it comes to schools. If you want to start a winery, brewery, or distillery, your proximity to a school is a major concern and can be the cause of a license rejection.

Question Mark February 24, 2016 (3:22 pm)

To date, the WSLCB has licensed 37 marijuana stores of the 42 it has allocated for Seattle. There are currently more than 5 additional applicants in Seattle that the WSLCB has given community notification and begun background checks on. So, it appears that not all pending applicants in Seattle will be approved.

Due to a wrinkle in how stores are allocated to the unincorporated area, White Center and Skyway are awash with state licensed marijuana stores. I wish the WSLCB would be more consistent about the limits it enforces.

the Aging Ent February 25, 2016 (10:22 pm)

I disagree somewhat the views of Sean Miller in this story. I’ve been in plenty of retail marijuana stores throughout SW Washington and Seattle and beyond. Most of the stores I’ve been to are clean, run by kind, interesting, generous people who are working hard to provide the best product and customer experience.

If you really want to see what marijuana retailers are like check out AgingEnt.com – my premium marijuana review blog. Click on “Stores and Farms” or check the left sidebar.

Seriously, retail marijuana is great. I’ll come and see what these stores are like too!

Question Mark February 26, 2016 (8:51 pm)

There are still 18 applicants whose application is being worked by the WSLCB for the last remaining 4 license slots (38 of 42 licenses have been issued in Seattle). In the map below, the mauve and pink balloons circled with a white circle show the locations of the remaining applicants in the race, only 2 of which are in West Seattle.