Have you heard? A new addition to Optimist Park is making this bustling, upbeat neighborhood even happier.
The Happy Camper — a community-centric, Charlotte-based retail dispensary — recently opened a new brick-and-mortar location at 2017 N. Davidson St. Launched as a mobile store in 2022, The Happy Camper originally sold its high-quality cannabis products out of a vintage 1960s Shasta camper at local and regional events.
“My idea was to meet people where they were, at local markets, festivals and music events,” said owner Michael Angelicola. “So we packed up and hit the road, to ensure people have what they need while they’re out having fun.”
STOP IN TO SHOP, STAY TO PLAY
With a vintage feel inspired by their original Shasta, The Happy Camper is as much about vibes as they are cannabis. Inviting and accessible, the new storefront offers customers a place to shop for edibles, flowers and prerolls, and other legal cannabis products — as well as a laid-back space to hang out.
“We’re not just a product-focused business,” Angelicola said. “Instead we want to create a space filled with positive energy that encourages people to relax and stay a while.”
To that end, Happy Camper is at work creating a lounge where shoppers can try out an eclectic array of cannabis products from brands like Trap Snax, Happy Camper, Max Legal and Hempnotics, including:
- Smokeables (including THCA flowers) and vapes.
- Edibles and tinctures.
- CBD topicals and intimacy kits.
- CBD-infused dog treats.
TREAT YOURSELF, HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS
TREAT YOURSELF, HELP YOUR NEIGHBORSThe Happy Camper’s collection comprises all the best cannabinoids, including CBD, CBN, Delta-8, Delta-9, Delta-10, and HHC. All products are:
- Manufactured on the East Coast of the United States.
- Compliant with both federal and state regulations.
- Third-party tested and analyzed to ensure purity and potency.
Soon, you’ll be able to purchase Happy Camper branded clothing and other items, as well as products from other local businesses. Happy Camper truly offers something for everyone, whether you’re already a fan of cannabis products or simply curious about cannabis.
And best of all, they’ll be rolling out a program soon every time you treat yourself at the store, you can also help your neighbors by allowing a portion of your purchase to be used to benefit local nonprofits.
“The Happy Camper is based on values that everyone can embrace,” Angelicola said. “We believe strongly in nurturing a compassionate spirit toward ourselves and others, in order to make the world a better place.”
LEARN HOW HEMP CAN HELP
One of the primary aims of The Happy Camper is to help educate the community about hemp’s many uses. For example, the store’s products offer therapeutic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits that can help:
- Alleviate anxiety
- Soothe chronic pain
- Ease sleeplessness
- Elevate your mood
To help tailor the experience to individual customers’ needs and lifestyles, The Happy Camper team is developing an icon-based educational system — a more intuitive, enjoyable way of learning than reading lines of scientific text when trying to pick which product will work for your end goals.
“Many people may not understand how indica and sativa strains can affect you differently,” he said. “So we are designing labels and an index map to help our customers effortlessly know what kind of experience each product can deliver.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…Festival-goers need not fear — those iconic Shasta campers you’ve come to know and love will still appear at local events. But, for now, the Happy Camper’s primary focus is on its exciting plans for the new brick-and-mortar location.
Located at 2017 N. Davidson St. (across from The Hobbyist) in Charlotte’s Optimist Park — nestled between Uptown, NoDa, Belmont and Villa Heights — Happy Camper is open daily from noon-9 p.m.
The store also offers an order-ahead option with outdoor lockers for after-hours pick-ups, with plans to offer a delivery service by the end of 2023.
For more information about the store and upcoming events, contact the store or visit the Happy Camper on Facebook and Instagram.
