Store mascot Chunk Norris greets visitors to the new Up in Smoke and Vape shop in Anza. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo
Customers entering the Up in Smoke and Vape shop in Anza are greeted by a riot of color and a French Bulldog named Chunk Norris.Splashes of graffiti-inspired artwork decorate the walls of the shop, and colorful items populate the spotlessly clean display cases. There is even a rack featuring tie dyed apparel with the Up in Smoke and Vape logo.The proprietor of the shop, Spaso Ilich, has worked hard to make the store a reality.“My cousin Matt said I should open a smoke shop, so I did,” he said. “My grandmother owned and ran a bar on the southside of Chicago for 25 years, and she inspired me to be a business owner.”All his family members fully support his journey into the retail realm, he added.Having opened in mid-February, Ilich has worked hard to earn his custo
