Retail Client

YAMBA
BOUTIQUE

In 1864, a police station was built in the shadow 
of Harvard University, one of the most elite – and historically white – institutions in the country. Over 150 years later, the location is home to a Yamba Boutique, a black woman owned cannabis dispensary celebrating an under-represented population.

CONCEPT

As the sister store to Yamba Market, Yamba Boutique by contrast is intimate and layered, occupying a former historic police station. After the police station closed in the late 1800's, the building was converted into a carriage repair shop. Nods to this history can be found throughout the design details and material selection. Aged brass accents reference the badges and buttons found on old police uniforms, while reeded glass pivot panels provide screening and flexible functionality at the storefront, referencing old police station safety and privacy glass. Taking inspiration from old carriage house doors, the entrance is stylized with the Yamba logo as decorative cross bracing, while leather curtain straps and drawer pulls are inspired by horse bridles. A custom bronze plaque at the entrance to the store takes inspiration from historic New England signage, speaking to the building’s past while telling the story of the Yamba Boutique brand. Built for and by women, warm, neutral hues, and rounded forms introduce a feminine touch to the industrial character of the building, providing a unique perspective to the cannabis industry. Organic textures, natural materials, custom floral wallpaper, and plant-life ground the experience and connect to the life cycle of the cannabis plant.

Credits
Photography: Maurisa Arieta
Merchandising: Isenberg Projects and Proportion Design