The Plug (formerly Utopia)

[gapie]

woppa ya mon we will be the plug in town we don't sock it lol socket for the plug

[Fat_old_dwarf]

It's natural to resent change, and to be fair, a lot of the changes in Amsterdam haven't really been for the better. But Utopia was a shining example of a shop that was good in spite of its limitations. It's small, and narrow, and there's a limited amount of how the space can be rejigged. Also, things like water and electric seem rather wonky, though that applies to much of Amsterdam and could be fixed. Theoretically.

The idea of a smoke-friendly bar sounds promising, though. For me the ideal is the old Cremers in den Haag, when you could smoke upstairs -- the atmosphere of a bar that you'd actually like to drink in, but which is perfectly acceptable if your mood is cannabis or coffee, or even something to eat. In theory there should be more decent smoke-friendly bars, because it's easier to get a licence for a bar, but in practice there really aren't any I can recommend to my drinking mates without reservations. So let's hope the ex-pizza place becomes one.

[Jesscass]

While browsing through all the posts on this board regarding this upcoming joint venture I'm wondering what all the fuss is about? Roughly some cry about a mediocre shop lost and others expect the wares to be much better there only because of someone owning a social cannabis club in Barcelona is soon involved.
The most interesting thing to me is not fantasising about what quality is going to be offered here for satisfying the needs of the average selfish druggie and their one dimensional as anti-social ways too often but what sort of impact that will have on the scene/pseudo-industry locally. Crystal clear it's gonna be zero impact for obvious reasons most probably.
Those druggies only thinking about their personal satisfaction are seriously overlooking some quite obvious cognitive bias and barking up the wrong tree. Go figure out for yourself though. Oh my.
In the meantime I say my farewell to Utopia and think they went downhill after that one budtender left ; otherwise it's an average place as I stated before in this thread and I have seen hundreds.
What I find amazing in retrospective is that said budtender back then realised about the signs of times and promoted that place on this board here and probably elsewhere on Social Media so this coffeeshop gained some reputation but taking a closer look it is definitely not unique.
I though remember again their best classic Moroccan when it was introduced as well as their supposedly imported Californian outdoor some years back. Have been in April but didn’t buy so my last purchase was their heavily overpriced Kashmir Dream(20€/g)which was good but not amazing.
So with this joint venture they will become a place like Voyagers and Grey Area and some others for a special offer every now and then ; which to some point they were already before of course but now it's a sorta new brand and people like brands. No essential change though. Would like to be proved wrong so time will tell. Will have a look there soon and report back. Though I have strong hopes for the pilot program of dutch government regarding legal growing for supply of coffeeshops as this is one step in the right direction.

[CopenhagenCouple]

The most interesting thing to me is not fantasising about what quality is going to be offered here for satisfying the needs of the average selfish druggie and their one dimensional as anti-social ways too often but what sort of impact that will have on the scene/pseudo-industry locally.

...ever hear the saying that if everyone you meet is a [insert negative label here], then maybe you are the [insert a little stronger worded version of your first insertion here]? If you are constantly surrounded by these scum of the earth people and it doesn't agree with you, pray tell, why do you keep going to their favorite places?

Crystal clear [...] [...] most probably.

Transparent as concrete my good sir!

[Kermit]

Question: have the owners kept the shop and doing a colab with the Plug?

Has the shop only been sold to another shop to do a colab with the Plug?

Or the plug took it outright?

anyone know? I am guessing option 2

[macky]

[quote=Jesscass post_id=414261 time=<a href="tel:1525801006">1525801006</a> user_id=31498]
The most interesting thing to me is not fantasising about what quality is going to be offered here for satisfying the needs of the average selfish druggie and their one dimensional as anti-social ways too often but what sort of impact that will have on the scene/pseudo-industry locally.

...ever hear the saying that if everyone you meet is a [insert negative label here], then maybe you are the [insert a little stronger worded version of your first insertion here]? If you are constantly surrounded by these scum of the earth people and it doesn't agree with you, pray tell, why do you keep going to their favorite places?

[quote=Jesscass post_id=414261 time=<a href="tel:1525801006">1525801006</a> user_id=31498]
Crystal clear [...] [...] most probably.
[/quote]

Transparent as concrete my good sir!
[/quote]
It,s one crazy rant ..I believe condescending was how we put it in the Dam
Good thing CC there lots of over consuming friends who love ya!

[notsofasteddie]

In the meantime I say my farewell to Utopia and think they went downhill after that one budtender left ; otherwise it's an average place as I stated before in this thread and I have seen hundreds.

I can't agree with average. The best edible I've ever had in Amsterdam came from Utopia. Getting to say, "Hi, Ingi" was always special. However, there is some truth that Utopia started down after Nel left. Any budtender in quilts has got to be special!

Wonder where he is today.

[Buffalostints]

In the meantime I say my farewell to Utopia and think they went downhill after that one budtender left ; otherwise it's an average place as I stated before in this thread and I have seen hundreds.

I can't agree with average. The best edible I've ever had in Amsterdam came from Utopia. Getting to say, "Hi, Ingi" was always special. However, there is some truth that Utopia started down after Nel left. Any budtender in quilts has got to be special!

Wonder where he is today.

he still hangs out at utopia just saw him last saturday oh and he also makes the edibles for utopia

[Nuggz]

While browsing through all the posts on this board regarding this upcoming joint venture I'm wondering what all the fuss is about? Roughly some cry about a mediocre shop lost and others expect the wares to be much better there only because of someone owning a social cannabis club in Barcelona is soon involved.
The most interesting thing to me is not fantasising about what quality is going to be offered here for satisfying the needs of the average selfish druggie and their one dimensional as anti-social ways too often but what sort of impact that will have on the scene/pseudo-industry locally. Crystal clear it's gonna be zero impact for obvious reasons most probably.
Those druggies only thinking about their personal satisfaction are seriously overlooking some quite obvious cognitive bias and barking up the wrong tree. Go figure out for yourself though. Oh my.
In the meantime I say my farewell to Utopia and think they went downhill after that one budtender left ; otherwise it's an average place as I stated before in this thread and I have seen hundreds.
What I find amazing in retrospective is that said budtender back then realised about the signs of times and promoted that place on this board here and probably elsewhere on Social Media so this coffeeshop gained some reputation but taking a closer look it is definitely not unique.
I though remember again their best classic Moroccan when it was introduced as well as their supposedly imported Californian outdoor some years back. Have been in April but didn’t buy so my last purchase was their heavily overpriced Kashmir Dream(20€/g)which was good but not amazing.
So with this joint venture they will become a place like Voyagers and Grey Area and some others for a special offer every now and then ; which to some point they were already before of course but now it's a sorta new brand and people like brands. No essential change though. Would like to be proved wrong so time will tell. Will have a look there soon and report back. Though I have strong hopes for the pilot program of dutch government regarding legal growing for supply of coffeeshops as this is one step in the right direction.

Holy wall of meth-binging text, I just clawed my eyes out after reading this - highly recommended, it's a most welcome respite from this utter drivel

[Junglist Movement]

Needs of the average selfish druggie. Hmmm

[KeyMonCha]

My drugs are indeed mostly for myself, and unfortunately, quite average!

[kalima]

so am I right in thinking it reopens today as the plug ?

[worldcitizen1723]

so am I right in thinking it reopens today as the plug ?

wait, I'm confused. I thought Utopia had to close due to it's location. How could another shop reopen at that same location?

[RoMoney]

[notsofasteddie]

so am I right in thinking it reopens today as the plug ?

wait, I'm confused. I thought Utopia had to close due to it's location. How could another shop reopen at that same location?

Update, December 5, 2016

One day we may properly edit and re-wwrite this article, but for now here’s the latest on Amsterdam’s coffeeshops.

After much legal wrangling, a number of coffeeshops originally scheduled to close in January 2016 now are forced to close by January 1, 2017.

The shops closing are: High Time, Lucifera in West, Space Mountain, Today, De Graal, De Kroon 3, Biba, and Mellow Yellow.

Six shops are ‘temporarily’ allowed to stay open because the school they are ‘too close to’ — the Amsterdamsche School at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal — is going to move elsewhere.

If no other school will settle in the monumental buidling, Resin, Mediterrané, Utopia, De Kroon 2, De Kuil and El Guapo can remain in business.

closed coffeeshops

I think the fact that the school moved meant that they no longer have to close since they are now outside the 250 meters boundary!