Since coming on the scene in the late 1960's, head shops have been a popular place for stoners, hippies, dead heads, music nerds, and anyone interested counterculture. Many cities all around the United States now have locally owned head shops at the center of their cannabis community—Springfield, Illinois is no exception! For more than 50 years, Springfielder's have seen head shops as the go-to place for many like-minded people to shop, hangout, and let loose! Let's take a look at Springfield's top 5 head shops in 2022:
5. Kreations Indoor Gardening Center
Kreations Indoor Gardening
Address: 3427 Old Chatham Road, Springfield IL 62704
For over 17 years, Kreations has been serving the cannabis enthusiast community with their great prices, kind faces, and impeccable service. While Kreations is still mainly focused on helping with gardening and plant growth, they have steadily expanded their selection. They now have a whole room set up as a dedicated head shop, as well as having books, paraphernalia, gummies, rolling papers, and other smokables all throughout the store!
Kreations also has a welcoming and open vibe. The owners, Chris and Brandy, are known to be incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. Kreations is the place to get all the equipment and help you need to get your grow set up.
4. Prairie State Hemp
Prairie State Hemp
Address: 460 E Washington St, Springfield IL, 62701
Prairie State Hemp is a CBD Specialty store that got its start in 2020 as an Illinois-grown hemp farm. They then began using locally-sourced hemp to craft premium CBD-based products, from tinctures all the way to topicals! Prairie State Hemp also carries special THC products, like THC-O gummies, Delta-8 pre-rolls, concentrates, and flower. They even have a list of collaborations with other local businesses, like Whimsey Tea Co!
But, they're a CBD store? Why are they on this list? Prairie State Hemp also carries an assortment of smoking accessories that can be found in-store, and online! It's not just the smoking accessories that seal the deal on this list— it's the environment, too. Prairie State Hemp's clean and professional environment is perfect for the older crowd, while the owner, Sam, and the whole Prairie State Hemp crew vibe really well with the stoners! They pride themselves on professionalism, while creating a welcoming, playful environment.
3. Happy Daze Gift Shop
Happy Daze Gift Shop
Address: 830 N Grand Ave E, Springfield IL, 62702
Happy Daze pride themselves on being a one-stop shop for all freethinkers and wayward souls. They've established themselves as the premiere Northside headshop, well-known for their friendly service and vast array of products. It's easy to get lost in their selection of posters, tapestries, t-shirts, blankets, patches, candles, key chains, papers, jewelry, and so much more.
Only a few years ago, Happy Daze moved to a larger location just down the road from their original store and expanded their glassware selection. Their back room is full of hundreds of reasonably priced pipes, bongs, hitters, chillums, ashtrays, and bowls in all shapes and sizes—some even handmade by the owner himself! Whether it's today or during their famous April 20th $4.20 sale, Happy Daze is definitely worth a stop.
2. Upper Limits Midwest Inc
Upper Limits Midwest Inc
Address: 1205 S 2nd St, Springfield IL 62704
Since getting their start in 2013, Upper Limits have established themselves as a must-visit shop. Upper Limits stands out among their contemporaries with their vape products. An entire room of their store is dedicated to a vast collection of vaporizers, rigs, tanks, e-cigarettes, and every flavor of e-liquid imaginable. Since expanding and doubling the size of their shop, they now have a formidable selection of CBD products, harvest equipment, and other miscellaneous paraphernalia.
Upper Limits also has an excellent selection of glassware, highlighted by their own in-house glass production studio and glassblower. This really adds to the already exceptional customer experience. Their wide selection and helpful, knowledgeable staff make this a wonderful head shop for all your stoner needs.
1. Penny Lane Gifts
Penny Lane Gifts
Address: 2901 S Macarthur Blvd, Springfield, IL 62704
Penny Lane is the one that started it all. Opening its doors all the way back in 1971, Penny Lane has remained a cornerstone in the community 50+ years later. Though they may have started out as a small, one-room store, they have since evolved into a multi-level emporium of all things counterculture.
You name it, they have it. With entire rooms dedicated to posters and tapestries, '60s and '70s memorabilia, body jewelry, incense, clothing, psychedelic artwork, and, of course, glassware. Their extensive collection has everything from hookahs, bongs, and bubblers, to chillums, pipes, and hitters. It's the perfect place to stock up or get a gift for the hippie in your life.
From their humble beginnings to now, Penny Lane has concreted itself as the best head shop in Springfield, Illinois. Awe Man, That's Beautiful.
Hippie culture is alive and thriving in Springfield. Do yourself a favor and check out the shops on the list and all the products they offer to keep the city weird.