Sept 28th–Oct 4th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times State Licensed Dispensaries & Doctor Cer tifications 29 Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) Don’t beat this step chilD…. 2023 MazDa cX-30 preMiuM plus 2023 MazDa cX-30 preMiuM plus M azda is the red headed step child of the automobile industry. They are part of the family but there is just a little something off about them. With the exception of the Miata, and if you’re a reader of Clutch you know how I feel about those s-boxes, Mazda doesn’t have a show-stopper or brand to hang their hat on. The CX models might be starting to pour some concrete but are still a bit of a ways away. The CX-30 is an enjoyable ride but feels only slightly larger than the hatchback Mazda 3. If you splurge for the 2.5 turbo engine you’ll enjoy a peppy 227 horsepower and 310-lb ft of torque. Given the size of the CX-30, this engine produces an enjoyable driving experience with ample pep and power. The cargo and passenger space is smaller than one would expect in a crossover SUV but think of the CX-30 as the fat little brother of the Mazda 3….it’s just a bigger car. LOL. The exterior stylings are starting to improve but still give off Mazda vibes. I think a bigger redesign should be in the works at some point to add even more cool points. The cabin design is functional and modern with solid materials for the investment. The 22/30 MPG are respectable and the $37,205 price tag is a steal for the ride. While Mazda is still the step child of the auto industry, they are making vehicles that are worth a look and not worth a beating anymore. Pick-Up: Handling: Comfort: Passenger Comfort: Safety & Security: Sound System: Access to Controls: Bells & Whistles: Overall: Looks: High Honors Noble Herb, with owners in the Valley and designed by a Scottsdale firm, nabbed a major award. BY GERI KOEPPEL A high country cannabis dispensary owned by a trio from the Valley recently nabbed a major award for its visual appeal. Noble Herb’s dispensary in Flagstaff, designed by Scottsdale-based High Road Design Studio, won a first-place award in the food and beverage/consumables cate- gory in Visual Merchandising + Store Design magazine’s 2023 International Visual Competition. The competition recognizes the best of the best in tempo- rary merchandising displays, such as pop-ups and window displays. VMSD is a retail trade publication founded in 1897 by L. Frank Baum, the writer of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Hundreds of top firms, including retailers, retail designers and visual merchandisers, vie each year for a top spot in the competi- tion’s five categories. Other entrants this year in the overall competition included Macy’s, Target and The Walt Disney Company. Past contestants have included Bergdorf Goodman, Coach, Saks Fifth Avenue, Patagonia and Everlane. A new face for Noble Herb Noble Herb’s founders and operating partners Doug Daly and brothers Ryan and Brandon Hermansky worked with Megan Stone, High Road’s founder and creative director, to create a warm, inviting retail space geared toward adult-use cannabis. Noble Herb first opened as a medical cannabis dispensary on June 13, 2013, at 460 N. Switzer Canyon Drive. It moved to its current spot, which used to house Kachina Downtown Restaurant, on July 6, 2022. Once cannabis was legalized for recre- ational use in Arizona, the Noble team knew they wanted to create a “beautiful, welcoming environment” focused on customer service. Although there are only three dispensaries in Flagstaff, they serve a full-time population of 72,000, and The exterior of Noble Herb features a black metal standing-seam roof and a colorful metal screen over the entry. (Photo by Kevin Brost, courtesy Noble Herb) Megan Stone of High Road Design Studio helped create the award-winning look of Noble Herb dispensary in Flagstaff. (Photo courtesy High Road Design Studio) | CANNABIS | >> p 31
