Members-only cannabis club opens on Water Street in Worcester
By
Cyrus Moulton
Telegram & Gazette Staff
Posted Feb 9, 2018 at 7:32 PM
Updated Feb 9, 2018 at 9:01 PM
WORCESTER - There are board games, an X-Box and snacks for
sale. Members of The Summit Lounge social club are allowed to bring in
food from nearby restaurants.
But that’s not all they can bring in.
“We allow our members to consume anything that’s legal in Massachusetts,” said Kyle Moon, general manager. “That does include cannabis.”
The Summit Lounge opened Friday as the city’s first private club for those who want a social setting in which to smoke a joint.
But Mr. Moon, 27, of Northbridge, said the goal of the business is not just to provide people with a place to get high.
“We don’t want to be known as the place where everybody comes to smoke weed,” Mr. Moon said, sneering at the word “weed.” “We want to be known as the place where people are able to socialize with people with like-minded interests.”
The Summit Club, located at 116 Water St. in the Canal District, is a private, membership association which opened its doors at noon on Friday. Because it is private, the club can skirt prohibitions related to smoking in public.
Memberships are available for $50 a month and give access to a club that is outfitted with tables and a bar made of reclaimed wood from a barn in East Brookfield, local art and industrial-chic lighting.
The Summit offers a selection of tobacco products to members including cigars and hookah, and offers glassware available to rent, according to its website. The club does not sell cannabis nor allow the sale of cannabis on the premises. The club plans to host events, such as tastings from local breweries, local artisan exhibits, game nights and live music.
Friday morning, just before opening, Mr. Moon, his co-owner parents
Lisa and Mark, and brother Jake put the finishing touches on the
2,000-square-foot club in one of Worcester’s hippest neighborhoods.
“It’s incredible we’re doing this business together as a family,” said Lisa Moon, 55. “It just all came together ... I didn’t think we were ever going to open.”
In fact, Mrs. Moon said that it was difficult to find a landlord willing to rent to a cannabis-related business. But when the Water Street location came up, the family jumped.
“In the next five to ten years, this area will be the hub” of the city, Mr. Moon predicted.
All the Moons also praised the city for helping them get through the licensing and inspection process.
But the city may not be totally on board with the club.
“The occupant of 116 Water Street (The Summit Lounge) did not disclose to the city that he would be operating a private club for the purpose of marijuana consumption,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said in a statement Friday night.
“He has exploited a loophole in the 2017 Marijuana Act as well as the
draft regulations. The City of Worcester has submitted written
testimony to the Cannabis Control Commission that the loophole must be
closed and private “bring your own marijuana” clubs must be addressed.
The city is also issuing a letter to any entity planning to open a
private marijuana club that we will strictly enforce all existing city
codes, ordinances and any other private membership club requirements.”
Asked for clarification, city spokesman Michael Vigneux said the club nevertheless appeared to be operating legally.
“We follow all state and local regulations as written,” Mr. Moon said in response to the statement. “We obtained all the local licenses. We are going to follow every local regulation and ordinance and have up to this point.”
Mr. Moon also said the city has not reached out to the business with any concerns, and he would “gladly field any concerns” the city may have.
“If there’s a loophole it should be closed and all regulatory issues should be dealt with, as it provides legitimacy to the industry,” Mr. Moon said.
But Friday he was focused on finding members.
Mr. Moon said the club’s target demographic is younger professionals who want an alternative to the bar or nightclub scene. But he said he has also gotten interest from many medical cannabis users who want a social space in which to take their dosage.
And with the club, Mr. Moon is looking to change perceptions of cannabis and its users. A person in recovery who doesn’t use marijuana, Mr. Moon said that his experience has opened his mind to breaking the stigma of cannabis - and the stigma of who uses cannabis - in society.
“Through recovery, I’ve learned that some of the stereotypical ideas we have of who consumes drugs and alcohol have been smashed,” Mr. Moon said. “I want (the club) to be a place where people can come and socialize and connect with other individuals where they are not stuck with negative associations. I’d like to see us turn an illegitimate industry into a legitimate one.”
But that’s not all they can bring in.
“We allow our members to consume anything that’s legal in Massachusetts,” said Kyle Moon, general manager. “That does include cannabis.”
The Summit Lounge opened Friday as the city’s first private club for those who want a social setting in which to smoke a joint.
But Mr. Moon, 27, of Northbridge, said the goal of the business is not just to provide people with a place to get high.
“We don’t want to be known as the place where everybody comes to smoke weed,” Mr. Moon said, sneering at the word “weed.” “We want to be known as the place where people are able to socialize with people with like-minded interests.”
The Summit Club, located at 116 Water St. in the Canal District, is a private, membership association which opened its doors at noon on Friday. Because it is private, the club can skirt prohibitions related to smoking in public.
Memberships are available for $50 a month and give access to a club that is outfitted with tables and a bar made of reclaimed wood from a barn in East Brookfield, local art and industrial-chic lighting.
The Summit offers a selection of tobacco products to members including cigars and hookah, and offers glassware available to rent, according to its website. The club does not sell cannabis nor allow the sale of cannabis on the premises. The club plans to host events, such as tastings from local breweries, local artisan exhibits, game nights and live music.
“It’s incredible we’re doing this business together as a family,” said Lisa Moon, 55. “It just all came together ... I didn’t think we were ever going to open.”
In fact, Mrs. Moon said that it was difficult to find a landlord willing to rent to a cannabis-related business. But when the Water Street location came up, the family jumped.
“In the next five to ten years, this area will be the hub” of the city, Mr. Moon predicted.
All the Moons also praised the city for helping them get through the licensing and inspection process.
But the city may not be totally on board with the club.
“The occupant of 116 Water Street (The Summit Lounge) did not disclose to the city that he would be operating a private club for the purpose of marijuana consumption,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said in a statement Friday night.
Asked for clarification, city spokesman Michael Vigneux said the club nevertheless appeared to be operating legally.
“We follow all state and local regulations as written,” Mr. Moon said in response to the statement. “We obtained all the local licenses. We are going to follow every local regulation and ordinance and have up to this point.”
Mr. Moon also said the city has not reached out to the business with any concerns, and he would “gladly field any concerns” the city may have.
“If there’s a loophole it should be closed and all regulatory issues should be dealt with, as it provides legitimacy to the industry,” Mr. Moon said.
But Friday he was focused on finding members.
Mr. Moon said the club’s target demographic is younger professionals who want an alternative to the bar or nightclub scene. But he said he has also gotten interest from many medical cannabis users who want a social space in which to take their dosage.
And with the club, Mr. Moon is looking to change perceptions of cannabis and its users. A person in recovery who doesn’t use marijuana, Mr. Moon said that his experience has opened his mind to breaking the stigma of cannabis - and the stigma of who uses cannabis - in society.
“Through recovery, I’ve learned that some of the stereotypical ideas we have of who consumes drugs and alcohol have been smashed,” Mr. Moon said. “I want (the club) to be a place where people can come and socialize and connect with other individuals where they are not stuck with negative associations. I’d like to see us turn an illegitimate industry into a legitimate one.”
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