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When it comes to weed shops in New York City, Gotham is just that girl. Ever since they opened their first brick-and-mortar store on the Bowery in 2023, they've become a cultural institution, mixing fashion, art and weed to create a lifestyle brand that proves that cannabis can be bougie. Last year, they opened another location at the revamped Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg.
Now, Gotham is gearing up to open its fourth location on April 19—just in time for 4/20—and this time, they're setting up shop at the corner of 10th Avenue and 19th Street in Chelsea.
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The Chelsea location of Gotham will have the brand's first-ever street level art gallery to further their commitment to platforming artists, while also giving a nod to the surrounding neighborhood. The 805-foot gallery-slash-dispensary will be managed by former PACE Gallery Sales Manager Emma Schwartz under the curatorial direction of Gotham’s VP of Creative Merchandising, Rachel Berks. The vibe? Cutting-edge, of course.
The first exhibition in the gallery will be "The World is Yours," a collaborative exhibition by rapper Nas and the design studio, Objects Are By. That showcase will include never-before-seen photos of Nas from 1994 and other treats for hip-hop heads.
Like other Gotham stores, the Chelsea space will feature a tree-inspired art installation by artist Molly Lowe. Based off the aspen trees of upstate New York, this specific tree was made from recycled materials, and its leaves created from from golden hand-painted capiz shells. Unlike other Gotham stores, though, this one has a corridor with art leading up to the main gallery space, which will exhibit a wide arrange of artists on rotation. It will also serve as an event space, so we're predicting some wild parties.
"The approach to Gotham’s curation, in lifestyle and in cannabis, is always focused on representing brands and collaborations that feel fresh, unique, and alive," Rachel Berks, VP of Creative and Merchandising at Gotham tells Time Out. "Chelsea is a really exciting store to curate for, as we’ve always immersed ourselves in the creative world. Now we’ve planted the first dispensary-gallery hybrid in the geographical heart of NYC's art scene."
Right now, a lot of the best known dispensaries are concentrated along Manhattan's east side and Brooklyn. So, why Chelsea? “Chelsea has always been the beating heart of New York’s art scene and we’re planting our flag right in the middle of it," says Joanne Wilson, founder of Gotham. "Our first dedicated gallery space is a bold statement of our commitment to artists, creatives, and the cultural landscape of New York City."
Aside from all the cool non-weed related products, Gotham Chelsea will also have a wide variety of cannabis, including premium flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vape pens, and live resin.
One of the most exciting elements of Gotham right now, at least for me, is the many collaborations the brand has with some of the most beloved New York City-based fashion designers, including Luar, Collina Strada and others. By the way, check out this super cool cheetah bong they made with Eckhaus Latta.
The store soft opened on April 4, but will officially open on April 19 at 146 10th Ave from 10am to 10pm daily.