Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jan 2001
Source: Nelson Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2001 Nelson Daily News
Contact:  266 Baker Street, Nelson, British Columbia V1L 4H3
Fax: (250) 352-2418
Website: http://www.nelsondailynews.com/
Author: Bob Hall

HOLY SMOKE ON THE MOVE

The Holy Smoke Culture Shop is emerging from the undeground and moving to a
new location overlooking Baker Street.

At the end of October, the owners of the controversial retailer were told
they had to vacate their 422 Herridge Lane basement location due to
complaints from other tenants who were concerned about "odours" coming from
the store.  After a few months of hunting for a an appropriate new space,
last week partners Paul DeFelice and Dustin Cantwell took out a lease on a
small house at 512 Hendryx Street.

"The most attractive thing about this location is that there are no
neighbours - it's a stand-alone house and there is nothing adjacent to it
except a park, an alley and two car lots," DeFelice says.  "It's the total
opposite of what we've been used to.  Our past locations have been in
basements and this one is overlooking Baker Street with big windows and a
view of the lake."

Holy Smoke has been at the centre of controversy on several occassions since
it first opened more than four years ago,  In October, 1997 a Nelson City
Police raid threatened to shut down the store, but a lengthy court battle
ended up clearing DeFelice, Cantwell and then partner Alan Middlemiss.
Another unsuccessful attempt to rid the city of Holy Smoke came in 1998 when
city council attempted to hike the shop's business licence fee from $150 to
$1,000 because it sold "hooka pipes".

Though aware that Holy Smoke was being forced to move, NCP Chief Ron Brock
said at this point his department is not concerned about the change of
location.

"I think it would be presumptuous of us to assume anything from the past,"
says Brock.  "We will look at it with an open mind and have a wait-and-see
attitude.  If it appears it (new location) is a problem then we will deal
with it."

The Hendryx Street location is right above the car lot at the end of Baker
Street and adjacent to the Earth Matters community garden which runs up one
block of the street.  Unlike the current location, DeFelice says the new
shop will be a little more off the beaten path but ultimately more visible.

"I don't think they will let us have a 20-foot Bob Marley smoking a bowl on
the roof or a flashing neon pot leaf," DeFelice says with a laugh. "Really,
I don't know if we want to be that visible.  We want to be discreet enough
where we don't piss people off, but yet visible enough that those who are
looking will find us.'

Late last week DeFelice says the move was in jeopardy after the city's
building inspector took a walk through the house and advised the shop owners
that upgrades would need to be done in order to make it compatible with city
by-laws.  Monday morning DeFelice says the inspector pointed out exactly
what would be needed and it was determined that the renovations would not be
out of their price range.

The house is currently zoned commercial which allows retail.

DeFelice says with 150 more square feet of space, the owners are considering
the shop to include a "psychedeli" which would serve beverages and hempseed
snacks.

The Holy Smoke owners are also negotiating a rent-to-own arrangement with
the current owners of the house.

"We believe that we are an asset to the community and thanks to the support
we have received we are confident in making a lasting investment in Nelson,"
says DeFelice.  "We plan on being here for awhile."
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