Protesters from the Mt. Calvary Christian Center led by Pastor Reggie Witherspoon chanted “Shut it down!” in front of Uncle Ike’s — Seattle’s second state-licensed marijuana retailer — on Sunday afternoon, according to a story in the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog .

Uncle Ike’s owner, Ian Eisenberg, said about the protest:

“They did what they had to do. I understand they don’t like the law, but Washington overwhelmingly voted for Initiative 502. And, no one contemplated a 1,000-foot-rule from churches.”

Eisenberg was referring the 1,000-foot buffer the state and the feds demand around schools, playgrounds, federally subsidized housing and so forth.

Justin Carder, publisher/writer of the CHS blog, wrote us via texts that there was very little customer activity during the protest of about 200 people but as soon as the protesters left, the shoppers returned. He guessed “people just drove by when they saw the crowd.”

At the rally, Witherspoon (according to the YouTube video above by the Capitol Hill Seattle Blog) called for his parishioners to rally throughout the week against the legal weed shop.

“We’ve got to have a strategy … We’re going to be working with the legislature. We have to be doing all the legal things we have to do, we’re not stopping here,” he said in the video. “A rally alone may not be the answer,” he said with the aid of a megaphone. “They must change this law, so we’re going to be here at 12 noon locking arms. We’re going to meet here at 5 p.m. locking arms, maybe not tomorrow because the Seahawks are playing (laughter) … come tomorrow at 12 and then Tuesday through Friday at 5 p.m.”

“They’re welcome to,” Eisenberg said of the proposed protests. “We have a right to sell legal marijuana, and they have a right to protest. … I like pastor Witherspoon. All the people I met from the church are super nice, and I think in the long term we’ll go back to being good neighbors.”

The church is located at 1412 23rd Avenue just a few yards from Uncle Ike’s at 2310 East Union St.

Related story: ‘Everybody get high!’: Seattle’s 2nd retailer Uncle Ike’s sells marijuana … shops 3, 4 and 5 coming to Seattle

Video by Jake Ellison Uncle Ike's prepares to sell marijuana Seattle's second state-licensed marijuana retailer, Uncle Ike's run by Seattleite Ian Eisenberg, will open high noon on Tuesday.









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Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 25 Caption Close Image 2 of 25 Customer Ryan Elbrecht is handed the first purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street in Seattle on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. The shop is the second recreational marijuana shop to open in Seattle. less Customer Ryan Elbrecht is handed the first purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street in Seattle on Tuesday, September 30, 2014. The shop is the second ... more Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 3 of 25 Product is shown during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street in Seattle. Product is shown during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street in Seattle. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 4 of 25 Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street in Seattle. Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop at 23rd Avenue and East Union Street in Seattle. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 5 of 25 Image 6 of 25 Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 7 of 25 Kay Hendon holds up her purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Kay Hendon holds up her purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 8 of 25 Customer Alex Mello stretches after wiring for four hours during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customer Alex Mello stretches after wiring for four hours during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 9 of 25 A customer peers into the window during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. A customer peers into the window during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 10 of 25 Image 11 of 25 Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 12 of 25 Customers place their orders during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers place their orders during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 13 of 25 Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 14 of 25 First customer Ryan Elbrecht exits after making his purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. First customer Ryan Elbrecht exits after making his purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 15 of 25 Image 16 of 25 Customer Kay Hendon makes a purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customer Kay Hendon makes a purchase during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 17 of 25 Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 18 of 25 Edible products are shown during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Edible products are shown during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 19 of 25 Employees wait for their first customers during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Employees wait for their first customers during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 20 of 25 Image 21 of 25 Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers wait in line during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 22 of 25 Customer Ryan Albrecht prepares to show his identification to enter during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customer Ryan Albrecht prepares to show his identification to enter during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 23 of 25 Customers place their orders during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers place their orders during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 24 of 25 Customers place their orders during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Customers place their orders during the opening of Uncle Ike's Pot Shop. Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO / SEATTLEPI.COM Image 25 of 25 Backlash: Church members, Seattle councilman protest Seattle marijuana retailer 1 / 25 Back to Gallery

Seattle City Council member Bruce Harrell appears briefly in the video and the Capitol Hill blog reports:

“But Seattle City Council member Bruce Harrell tells CHS he is beginning a review of how the shop was allowed to open at the intersection in such close proximity to the church. Harrell said there is nothing yet on the City Council’s calendar but that he is beginning the process this week. Harrell also said he hasn’t yet talked with Ike’s owner Eisenberg but that he intends to as he looks for “clarifications” about how the new business came to be.”

Of course, no small irony is the fact that there is a liquor store, a bar and a beer and wine selling convenience store within view of the cross-street as well.

We’re reaching out to folks for clarifications, confirmations etc.

Jake Ellison can be reached at 206-448-8334 or jakeellison@seattlepi.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/Jake_News. Also, swing by and *LIKE* his page on Facebook.

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