Mount Clemens-based cannabis provider Pleasantrees announced it is breaking ground at the site of its Gibraltar Trade Center, transforming it into an events space and cannabis retail store.
After 33 years, the reimagined space will be designed to “breathe new life” into the building, including a new look for the iconic Gibraltar Man sign, which is visible from I-94.
Pleasantrees commissioned Detroit Sign Painters to outfit the sign that depicts a man in a new blue suit to usher in the building’s new era. The art team includes the original sign painter’s daughter, Kelly Thomson McLeod, bringing the project full circle.
“The Gibraltar Man is a family favorite,” says McLeod. “We were able to go to Disney World because of that sign, so it’s extra special to us.”
Pleasantrees has occupied the Gibraltar Trade Center space with a temporary dispensary for medical and recreational sales since 2022. The new facility will occupy approximately 9,000 square feet of the 250,000-square-foot facility. Pleasantrees was awarded permits for cultivation, processing, retail, and a consumption lounge.
As part of the interior and exterior renovation, Pleasantrees plans to update the parking lot for an improved customer experience.
“I have always dreamed of a world in which cannabis is destigmatized,” says Randall Buchman, founder and CEO of Pleasantrees. “I am grateful that Pleasantrees now has the opportunity to develop the Gibraltar site into a venue where cannabis users and the rest of the community can share experiences.”
In addition to housing a medical and recreational dispensary on-site, Pleasantrees has further plans to reactivate the location with community events, preserving the spirit that defined the Gibraltar Trade Center, which hosted flea markets and fairs throughout its history. The building also will bring together residents from Mount Clemens and surrounding areas for concerts, auto shows, farmers markets, and more.
In addition to remaking the Gibraltar man and giving the Gibraltar Trade Center a facelift, Pleasantrees is partnering with Detroit-based nonprofit Heart 2 Hart to recognize November as Homeless Awareness Month in Michigan.
All month, Pleasantrees will donate one item of clothing for every item purchased from its apparel line, Pleasantrees Provisions. In addition to the in-store initiative, Pleasantrees will donate other essential items on Heart 2 Hart’s wish list.
Heart 2 Hart distributes food, clothing, toiletries, and more to individuals experiencing homelessness. Their mission is “to lift up individuals in crisis and help end homelessness.” In 2022, the organization distributed an impressive amount of aid to those in need, including 13,200 meals, 5,200 pairs of socks, and 2,100 shirts and sweatshirts.
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