Store Highlight: K’s Pot Shop

Set in the Toronto neighbourhood of Leslieville, K’s fits right in the community of snug cafés, vintage shoppers and dog lovers (literal “golden retriever energy”). Its homey, maximalist decor evokes a feeling more like a rec room than a dispensary, satisfying window shoppers and die hard cannaisseurs alike.

Though eclectic, the nostalgic furnishings and curios are all curated to offer an intentional alternative to the tech-forward sterility of some of their competitors.

“When legalization happened, we visited a lot of stores, but didn’t see anything that resonated with us, so we created what was missing, what we feel best represents cannabis culture: A comfortable and friendly place to ask questions, discuss products and find the perfect cannabis consumables for individual needs,” Keay says.

K’s is brimming with art, collectibles, a comfy couch and old movies playing on the screens. “It’s fun, it’s warm and inviting. Plus, I have the thing I always wanted: a china cabinet full of bongs!”

Elisa Keay

Owner, K’s Pot Shop, Toronto

 “I hope to see the future of retail become the vibrant and sustainable community I know it can be.”

While the store isn’t explicitly geared toward a specific gender, Keay’s experiences as a woman navigating the legacy market have influenced her approach. “When I was younger, there were periods that I couldn’t access cannabis without a guy picking [it] up for me or with me,“ Keay says.

”There were times where I would have to meet someone’s ‘guy’ on the corner or jump into the back of a car to go around the block while we did the deal — or go over to my guy’s place and go in, hang out, maybe even have to smoke a joint before getting what I came for,“ she continues. ”I never knew if there would be a group of his buddies, if it would be comfortable or even entirely safe,” she says. “Walking into a store and getting to pick from a menu… and knowing what you’re buying — that’s the best part.”

The opportunity to provide cannabis education on topics like terpenes, edible consumption best practices and plant lineage is one of the most rewarding parts of the gig for Keay. In particular, she loves teaching women how to roll joints, who come in admitting they’ve deferred to the men in their lives for rolling duties. She’s also noted a large presence of older women in the shop, who may feel more comfortable getting curious about cannabis with someone who shares some of their experiences and goals.

Keay’s purpose, beyond the day-to-day community involvement in the shop, is advocating for retailers and consumers alike. As a founding member of the Retail Cannabis Council of Ontario, Keay is deeply involved in shaping the industry.

“Together, we work with regulators, government and other cannabis businesses to improve the industry and foster community. I love this part of my role in the cannabis industry. It’s allowed me to do so many interesting things I’d never thought I’d do, from hosting massive industry events to visiting Ottawa to share my perspective with MPPs to speaking at one of Health Canada’s Cannabis Act review panels,” Keay says.

SHOP PRE-ROLLS

“I really hope I can continue advocacy. It’s slow-moving, but real change won’t make itself happen without some effort and guidance.”

K’s Pot Shop is more than just a cannabis retail store — it’s a testament to what cannabis retail can be when shaped by people who truly understand and love the plant. Through thoughtful curation, education and advocacy, Keay has created a space that goes beyond the transaction and into meaningful community-building.

Can’t visit K’s Pot Shop in person? Out of range for their local delivery? Use the OCS Store Locator to find an Authorized Cannabis Store near you.

Store Highlight features Authorized Cannabis Stores that apply to participate as part of the quarterly OCS Content Call process. If you are interested in having your store featured, find out how on OCS Wholesale Learn.