Phoenix, Arizona – Verano Holdings Corp. (Cboe CA: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF), a prominent multi-state cannabis operator, announced on June 25, 2025, the launch of an innovative retail format at its Zen Leaf Phoenix-Cave Creek dispensary located at 12401 N Cave Creek Rd in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dubbed the “bodega-style” experience, this new model significantly alters the traditional cannabis dispensary setup, moving towards a more accessible and customer-driven retail environment. The core concept revolves around allowing customers the freedom to directly browse and select cannabis products from open shelving, mirroring the experience of visiting a conventional retail store.
Revolutionizing the Cannabis Retail Model
The introduction of the bodega-style format at Zen Leaf Cave Creek represents a strategic shift by Verano to enhance customer engagement and convenience. By enabling direct access to products, the company aims to demystify the cannabis purchasing process and provide a more comfortable and intuitive shopping journey.
Verano touts this format as offering one of the largest assortments of directly accessible cannabis products in the United States. This direct interaction with products is intended to empower consumers, allowing them to make informed choices at their own pace, reducing reliance solely on budtender recommendations.
The new retail model at the Phoenix-Cave Creek location is designed to accommodate a variety of purchasing preferences. Customers can engage in self-selection, browse and pick up online pre-orders, utilize in-store kiosks for streamlined transactions, opt for traditional counter service, or take advantage of a newly introduced curbside pickup option for added convenience.
Strategic Expansion Across Arizona
Following the debut in Phoenix, Verano is actively exploring the potential to implement this bodega-style concept across its broader retail footprint in Arizona. The company currently operates eight other dispensaries throughout the state, and the successful integration at Zen Leaf Cave Creek could pave the way for similar transformations.
These potential expansion sites include other Zen Leaf locations in Arcadia, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and the Phoenix-West Dunlop area. Additionally, Verano operates Cannabist outlets in Prescott and Tempe, which could also see the adoption of the bodega format, pending evaluation of the pilot’s success.
Beyond enhancing the customer experience, the innovative layout at Zen Leaf Cave Creek is also designed to foster stronger relationships with wholesale partners. Verano plans to leverage the physical space to offer in-store third-party activation opportunities, providing brands distributed by Verano a platform for direct engagement with consumers within the dispensary environment.
Verano Holdings: A National Operator
Verano Holdings Corp., trading under the symbols Cboe CA: VRNO and OTCQX: VRNOF, is a significant player in the U.S. cannabis industry. As a multi-state operator (MSO), the company has established a presence in 13 states, overseeing a comprehensive network that includes 15 production facilities.
These facilities support a substantial cultivation capacity totaling over 1.1 million square feet, underpinning Verano’s ability to supply its retail locations and wholesale partners with a diverse range of cannabis products. The company’s operational scale provides the infrastructure necessary to support ambitious retail initiatives like the bodega concept.
Celebrating Innovation with Community Event
To mark the launch of the new retail experience and engage the local community, Verano has scheduled a grand re-opening Summer Festival at the Zen Leaf Cave Creek dispensary on June 28th. The event is planned as a celebration of the innovative format.
The festival is set to feature various giveaways for attendees and will include appearances by notable artists Dizzy Wright and Devin the Dude, aiming to draw interest and introduce customers to the transformed retail space in a festive atmosphere.
The unveiling of the bodega-style dispensary at Zen Leaf Cave Creek underscores Verano’s commitment to refining the cannabis retail experience, prioritizing customer access, convenience, and choice while exploring scalable models for future growth across its network.
