Step inside Klutch Cannabis on Prospect Avenue East, and you might think you’ve wandered into a record store lost in time.
In the lobby, a massive mural pays tribute to Record Rendezvous, the legendary Cleveland shop that once stood in its place. Vintage-inspired wood details, black leather seating and a bold yellow “Cleveland” script across the front desk set the tone.
Through the front window, red neon signage and curated vinyl displays and music pieces mirror the iconic storefront of Rendezvous Records so closely, passersby might do a double-take
“It [this location] was really important to us to combine the cultures of music and cannabis, and honor the legacy of what was built here and the significance of that,” says Lauren Delande, vice president of retail operations at Klutch Cannabis.
Inside, the nostalgic nods continue. A vintage-style TV screen plays a slideshow of photos from the original shop, which was founded by Leo Mintz in 1938 and moved to 300 Prospect Ave. in 1945.
Record Rendezvous revolutionized music retail with the first-ever browsing bins and listening booths, making it one of the first stores where customers could sample records before buying. Though the store closed in 1987, Klutch’s design honors its legacy, bringing a slice of Cleveland music history into the city’s growing cannabis culture.
Klutch Cannabis, founded in Akron in 2020, is a vertically integrated brand offering cultivation, processing and retail across Ohio.
Past the entrance, the display room is stocked with a variety of cannabis options, including flower, tinctures, edibles, vaporizers, topicals and more. Bud tenders are available to answer any questions and make suggestions based on personal cannabis preferences
Sleek interactive kiosks greet customers as they walk into the display room, offering an intuitive, self-guided way to browse products, explore strain profiles and build their carts. Guests can simply place a product on the kiosk, where an embedded chip instantly pulls up a spread of information on the item.
This tech-forward model streamlines the shopping experience, giving customers quick access to terpene data and product details.
Klutch Cannabis has partnered with several high-profile brands to elevate its offerings in Ohio, including global powerhouse Cookies, premium edibles leader Kiva Confections and OG Kush pioneer Josh D.
“We're proud to be able to grow these legendary genetics in the cannabis culture and be able to provide it safely and legally while providing people with an experience,” says Mike Lentz, vice president of production operations at Klutch Cannabis.
It’s not yet clear when the Cleveland storefront will open to the public, but when it does, it’s set to serve both adult-use customers (21 and older) and medical cardholders in a thoughtfully curated space.
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