From Perfume to Pot: Inside a Department Store's Secret Cannabis Farm

For decades, Wildings was the most prestigious shop in Newport, Wales. It closed in 2019. Now, the historic building is damaged and used for crime. I stand by a broken elevator inside the empty store. A sign lists the floors: shoes, cosmetics, furniture, a tea room. But the elevator does not work. The panel hangs loose from the wall. I use my phone's light to see. This floor once smelled of perfume. Now, the air is cold and musty. There are no gifts or cosmetics. Wildings shut its doors forever in 2019 after 144 years of business. Since its closing, the building has fallen into disrepair. Authorities discovered it was used as an illegal cannabis farm. It also became an unofficial skate park. The story of Wildings shows a rapid change. A community landmark became a site for illicit activity.