Michael Merino loves Colorado, but he can’t help but miss one thing: the beach. So he brought one to Denver, complete with water, sand, bridges and a few pink flamingos.
Merino’s new dispensary at 3100 Blake St., Pank RiNo, is painted pink with thick dock ropes and a wooden bridge at the entrance. At night, pink lights illuminate the rocks. Inside, the floor is painted to look like sparkling sand and foamy, Caribbean-blue water, covered with epoxy. Local artist Tristan Minton (AKA pager.one) customized the bathrooms. And, pending city approval, the building will have a neon sign of a pink flamingo out front, according to Merino.
“I said, ‘Why don’t we turn the waiting room floor into a beach?’” he says. “I grew up in California, and really miss just hanging out on the beach. … But this whole place is actually based in Flamingo Beach in Aruba. The whole building already glows pink at night.”…