Kitchener could get 2nd retail cannabis store while Guelph's store disqualified

The City of Kitchener could see a second cannabis store openup shop, after 12 prospective retailers weredisqualified from the application process fornot submitting documents required by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and a thirteenth withdrew its application.

That opened a spot for anumbered company,2208292 Alberta Ltd.,to be bumped from the wait list.

The company now has theopportunity to apply for a licenceto set up a retail outlet at 73 King Street Westin downtown Kitchener. A "Zoup" store used to be located there.

Landlord Frank Voisin, the president of Voisin Capital, told CBCthe company had signed conditional offers to lease the spot with at least five cannabis companies, while over 40 applications put the address down on spec.

"There were a lot of people who put the site down, and if they won the process then they would have come to us to try to strike a deal," said Voisin.

"We were happy that the group that was selected to move forward is one that we were aware of."

Ten business days to file

AGCO spokesperson Raymond Kahnert told CBCthe new successful cannabis lottery winners now have to submit their required financial information and regulatory requirements.

"Those that were advised that they're invited to join the list of selected applicants have 10 working days from the first day of business after their notification," said Kahnert.

Another applicant using the name "Patricia, Gertrude, Donnelly" is still in the running to open a store in Kitchener at 589 Fairway Road S. If accepted, the retail store would share a plaza withShoeper, Marshalls and State and Main Kitchen and Bar.

This group continues to the next step of the licence process, at which point the applicant has to meet alllegal and regulatory requirements. That includes police and background checks on the applicants.

An applicant known as "John Reynolds" had originally been invited to apply to open a store in Guelph but has since been disqualified.