The Attic Pizza Parlour in Stoney Creek wants to add marijuana to its menu, but some neighbours and the area’s councillor say the plan deserves to go up in smoke.
Owner Ned Kuruc says his licence application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) seeks to convert the landmark King Street East eatery’s dining room into a 1,000-square-foot pot shop to be known as Neku Cannabis.
He said he intends to keep the takeout and delivery side, which is separated by a cinder-block wall and has its own entrance, calling the move to ditch the dine-in portion “a tough choice” reflecting higher costs and diminishing returns.
“The restaurant business isn’t what it used to be,” said Kuruc, who revived the Attic in 2003 after it had been closed for years. It originally opened in 1973.
“Everything is just through the roof, and when you look at the financials of our business for the last 16 years we’re getting slowly squeezed out.”
Kuruc, who is also seeking a licence for a Neku Cannabis shop in Hess Village, said he realizes some people will associate The Attic’s bid with the former illegal pot shop that rented the home he owns next door.
But he said he it has nothing to do with his proposed store, which will meet all provincial regulations, including on distance from schools, security and the sale of only prepackaged cannabis — and won’t be owned by a corporate chain like many others.
“At least people can put a face behind this shop. It is a small business for Hamilton owned by a Hamiltonian,” said Kuruc, who ran for councillor in Ward 3 in the 2018 municipal election and now runs a mortgage business out of the home beside the Attic.
Kuruc’s application is sparking bad memories for Heather Slattery, who lives at the corner of King Street and Applewood Avenue, across the street from the former illegal pot shop.
Known as The Wellness Glass Co., the shop stayed open even after a January 2018 police raid seized six kilograms of pot and charged three occupants, only closing amid the province’s threat of tougher penalties for scofflaws that fall.
Slattery said the area was overrun by traffic from customers who showed little regard for a mostly residential area with young families, seniors and a YMCA Child Care Centre three doors down from her home.
“It was pretty, pretty bad, let me tell you. They were weeing on the fences,” Slattery said. “The traffic and cars on both sides of the streets, you couldn’t even get into your driveway at times it was so bad.”
Dave Long, who lives north of the Attic, said he’s concerned the Attic cannabis store won’t be much better than the illegal shop that “devastated the neighbourhood” until forced to close.
He said a lengthy list of boorish customer behaviour included neighbours being threatened and assaulted, homes being damaged, foul language, and children and infants being left in vehicles while parents bought their pot.
“Go to an area where there are businesses, not where there’s a neighbourhood,” Long said of the proposed legal store. “It’s going to have a major disruption for us once again, and we put up with this stuff for 18 months.”
Chad Collins, the area’s councillor, said he’s already submitted comments opposing Kuruc’s application, calling the illegal shop next to the Attic a "poster child” of why he voted against Hamilton allowing even privately-owned legal cannabis stores.
He said he expects both the city and police to flag the Attic’s connection to the illegal shop, even if just as a landlord, in formal comments to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
The fact that Premier Doug Ford warned illegal operators they wouldn’t be able to enter the legal market should also be a factor, he added.
“I’m hoping that issue in itself is enough for the AGCO to see fit to deny the licence,” Collins said, adding he shares neighbours’ concerns about the suitability of the location, including because of limited parking.
“I think the main one here we’re looking at is the whole issue of operating with honesty and integrity.”
Collins said he’s less concerned about an application by the Hunny Pot Cannabis Co. for a store in a strip plaza at 40 Centennial Pkwy. — across from Eastgate Square — because it’s near a regional shopping centre with more parking.
But he said he’d still prefer the LCBO model for stores proposed by the previous Liberal government and would like the issues with private shops to be ironed out before more are approved.
Hamilton presently has four legal shops with applications for another 11 before the AGCO.
“I still think they’re kind of flying by the seat of their pants in terms of where these are located,” Collins said.
The Attic Pizza Parlour in Stoney Creek wants to add marijuana to its menu, but some neighbours and the area’s councillor say the plan deserves to go up in smoke.
Owner Ned Kuruc says his licence application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) seeks to convert the landmark King Street East eatery’s dining room into a 1,000-square-foot pot shop to be known as Neku Cannabis.
He said he intends to keep the takeout and delivery side, which is separated by a cinder-block wall and has its own entrance, calling the move to ditch the dine-in portion “a tough choice” reflecting higher costs and diminishing returns.
“The restaurant business isn’t what it used to be,” said Kuruc, who revived the Attic in 2003 after it had been closed for years. It originally opened in 1973.
“Everything is just through the roof, and when you look at the financials of our business for the last 16 years we’re getting slowly squeezed out.”
Kuruc, who is also seeking a licence for a Neku Cannabis shop in Hess Village, said he realizes some people will associate The Attic’s bid with the former illegal pot shop that rented the home he owns next door.
But he said he it has nothing to do with his proposed store, which will meet all provincial regulations, including on distance from schools, security and the sale of only prepackaged cannabis — and won’t be owned by a corporate chain like many others.
“At least people can put a face behind this shop. It is a small business for Hamilton owned by a Hamiltonian,” said Kuruc, who ran for councillor in Ward 3 in the 2018 municipal election and now runs a mortgage business out of the home beside the Attic.
Kuruc’s application is sparking bad memories for Heather Slattery, who lives at the corner of King Street and Applewood Avenue, across the street from the former illegal pot shop.
Known as The Wellness Glass Co., the shop stayed open even after a January 2018 police raid seized six kilograms of pot and charged three occupants, only closing amid the province’s threat of tougher penalties for scofflaws that fall.
Slattery said the area was overrun by traffic from customers who showed little regard for a mostly residential area with young families, seniors and a YMCA Child Care Centre three doors down from her home.
“It was pretty, pretty bad, let me tell you. They were weeing on the fences,” Slattery said. “The traffic and cars on both sides of the streets, you couldn’t even get into your driveway at times it was so bad.”
Dave Long, who lives north of the Attic, said he’s concerned the Attic cannabis store won’t be much better than the illegal shop that “devastated the neighbourhood” until forced to close.
He said a lengthy list of boorish customer behaviour included neighbours being threatened and assaulted, homes being damaged, foul language, and children and infants being left in vehicles while parents bought their pot.
“Go to an area where there are businesses, not where there’s a neighbourhood,” Long said of the proposed legal store. “It’s going to have a major disruption for us once again, and we put up with this stuff for 18 months.”
Chad Collins, the area’s councillor, said he’s already submitted comments opposing Kuruc’s application, calling the illegal shop next to the Attic a "poster child” of why he voted against Hamilton allowing even privately-owned legal cannabis stores.
He said he expects both the city and police to flag the Attic’s connection to the illegal shop, even if just as a landlord, in formal comments to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
The fact that Premier Doug Ford warned illegal operators they wouldn’t be able to enter the legal market should also be a factor, he added.
“I’m hoping that issue in itself is enough for the AGCO to see fit to deny the licence,” Collins said, adding he shares neighbours’ concerns about the suitability of the location, including because of limited parking.
“I think the main one here we’re looking at is the whole issue of operating with honesty and integrity.”
Collins said he’s less concerned about an application by the Hunny Pot Cannabis Co. for a store in a strip plaza at 40 Centennial Pkwy. — across from Eastgate Square — because it’s near a regional shopping centre with more parking.
But he said he’d still prefer the LCBO model for stores proposed by the previous Liberal government and would like the issues with private shops to be ironed out before more are approved.
Hamilton presently has four legal shops with applications for another 11 before the AGCO.
“I still think they’re kind of flying by the seat of their pants in terms of where these are located,” Collins said.
The Attic Pizza Parlour in Stoney Creek wants to add marijuana to its menu, but some neighbours and the area’s councillor say the plan deserves to go up in smoke.
Owner Ned Kuruc says his licence application to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) seeks to convert the landmark King Street East eatery’s dining room into a 1,000-square-foot pot shop to be known as Neku Cannabis.
He said he intends to keep the takeout and delivery side, which is separated by a cinder-block wall and has its own entrance, calling the move to ditch the dine-in portion “a tough choice” reflecting higher costs and diminishing returns.
“The restaurant business isn’t what it used to be,” said Kuruc, who revived the Attic in 2003 after it had been closed for years. It originally opened in 1973.
“Everything is just through the roof, and when you look at the financials of our business for the last 16 years we’re getting slowly squeezed out.”
Kuruc, who is also seeking a licence for a Neku Cannabis shop in Hess Village, said he realizes some people will associate The Attic’s bid with the former illegal pot shop that rented the home he owns next door.
But he said he it has nothing to do with his proposed store, which will meet all provincial regulations, including on distance from schools, security and the sale of only prepackaged cannabis — and won’t be owned by a corporate chain like many others.
“At least people can put a face behind this shop. It is a small business for Hamilton owned by a Hamiltonian,” said Kuruc, who ran for councillor in Ward 3 in the 2018 municipal election and now runs a mortgage business out of the home beside the Attic.
Kuruc’s application is sparking bad memories for Heather Slattery, who lives at the corner of King Street and Applewood Avenue, across the street from the former illegal pot shop.
Known as The Wellness Glass Co., the shop stayed open even after a January 2018 police raid seized six kilograms of pot and charged three occupants, only closing amid the province’s threat of tougher penalties for scofflaws that fall.
Slattery said the area was overrun by traffic from customers who showed little regard for a mostly residential area with young families, seniors and a YMCA Child Care Centre three doors down from her home.
“It was pretty, pretty bad, let me tell you. They were weeing on the fences,” Slattery said. “The traffic and cars on both sides of the streets, you couldn’t even get into your driveway at times it was so bad.”
Dave Long, who lives north of the Attic, said he’s concerned the Attic cannabis store won’t be much better than the illegal shop that “devastated the neighbourhood” until forced to close.
He said a lengthy list of boorish customer behaviour included neighbours being threatened and assaulted, homes being damaged, foul language, and children and infants being left in vehicles while parents bought their pot.
“Go to an area where there are businesses, not where there’s a neighbourhood,” Long said of the proposed legal store. “It’s going to have a major disruption for us once again, and we put up with this stuff for 18 months.”
Chad Collins, the area’s councillor, said he’s already submitted comments opposing Kuruc’s application, calling the illegal shop next to the Attic a "poster child” of why he voted against Hamilton allowing even privately-owned legal cannabis stores.
He said he expects both the city and police to flag the Attic’s connection to the illegal shop, even if just as a landlord, in formal comments to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
The fact that Premier Doug Ford warned illegal operators they wouldn’t be able to enter the legal market should also be a factor, he added.
“I’m hoping that issue in itself is enough for the AGCO to see fit to deny the licence,” Collins said, adding he shares neighbours’ concerns about the suitability of the location, including because of limited parking.
“I think the main one here we’re looking at is the whole issue of operating with honesty and integrity.”
Collins said he’s less concerned about an application by the Hunny Pot Cannabis Co. for a store in a strip plaza at 40 Centennial Pkwy. — across from Eastgate Square — because it’s near a regional shopping centre with more parking.
But he said he’d still prefer the LCBO model for stores proposed by the previous Liberal government and would like the issues with private shops to be ironed out before more are approved.
Hamilton presently has four legal shops with applications for another 11 before the AGCO.
“I still think they’re kind of flying by the seat of their pants in terms of where these are located,” Collins said.