Viola Brands Looks To Drive Diversity In Illinois With Their First Chicago-Area Shop
“Coming home to Chicago is just unbelievable”
A new cannabis dispensary from Viola Brands will open its first Chicago-area location this week, adding another pot shop to Illinois’ burgeoning legal weed market — and a diverse group of entrepreneurs to the state’s troubled industry rollout.
Viola Chi is led by Dan Pettigrew, a Hyde Park cannabis industry veteran, and business partner Al Lomax. Pettigrew co-founded Viola Brands with former NBA star Al Harrington in Denver in 2011. Hall of Famer Allen Iverson is a partner.
“Coming home to Chicago is just unbelievable,” Pettigrew said. “It’s just an incredible opportunity to do this in my hometown and bring this to my hometown.”
Pettigrew and Lomax received two Illinois pot licenses in 2022. After opening a dispensary in west suburban Broadview this week at 1516 W. Roosevelt Road, they plan to open another later this year in a former emissions testing facility in Lincoln Park, at 1850 W. Webster Ave.
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