It was a smashing success, resulted in lines down the street, massive media coverage, and even secured Eater LA’s Surprise of the Year.
The Artist Tree is a rare business for the city, let alone the country, having secured every license possible from West Hollywood officials.
The Artist Tree Studio consumption lounge overlooks Santa Monica Boulevard just west of La Cienega Boulevard, with a second floor lounge filled with books lining a deep blue bookcase near the host stand.
Though table service includes cannabis consumption, food and drinks come from Kitchen 24.
No alcohol is allowed at any cannabis consumption lounge either, so Kitchen 24’s virgin margaritas, mojitos, and a virgin cucumber mule will have to do for those looking for beverages.
Everything is listed by category, type, and dosage, and is a curated list of what’s sold downstairs at the full dispensary.
The dispensary and consumption lounges are filled with work by local artists, but the owners collect no commission for the art.
Fontein and business partners Avi and Mitchell Kahan are navigating the frequent state and local law changes while expanding their dispensary footprint throughout California.
LA hospitality designer Kevin Klein — who developed Ricardo Zarate’s Short Stories on Fairfax — steered the look and feel of the Artist Tree, and also chose every book on the shelves.
Though the Original Cannabis Cafe plans to reopen later this year, this “Emerald Village” of cannabis lounges are part of WeHo’s longterm strategy to embrace the cannabis industry.