A Wilmington resident recently opened a CBD shop on Castle Street, where she has planned a grand opening Sunday. 

Kim Skidmore has been welcoming customers to LIV CBD at 320 Castle St. as part of a soft opening for about a month.

Born in Philadelphia in 1982, Skidmore moved to Wilmington in 2002. She worked in a medical clinic as a client liaison and business professional, alongside the doctor, “helping people in the art of aging and fulfilling their health and wellness goals for 10 years, which made a smooth transition into the holistic business of CBD,” according to a news release.

Skidmore herself used to have sleep issues and problems with a bulging disc in her lower back.

“After being introduced to CBD I haven’t had an issue since,” Skidmore said Monday. “And I wanted people to be able to get the help from this plant appropriately and correctly.”

CBD stands for cannabidiol, a chemical compound derived from hemp plants. When it comes to CBD, Skidmore said, “education is key. So once I started realizing that it was working for me, I learned everything I could about it and about the plant.”

At the shop, which is 300 square feet and has a courtyard, Skidmore sells high-grade CBD tinctures, water-soluble CBD, topicals, pet supplies and a variety of gummies, as well as her custom skincare line.

P.J. Doherty of Carolina Commercial Investment Properties represented Skidmore in the lease transaction.

While there are a number of outlets for this kind of product in the Wilmington area, the quality is higher at LIV CBD, according to the release, because of Skidmore's knowledge and continual education on the subject.

She also keeps track of trends.

Skidmore said, “One product that is flying off the shelves, and I think can open up the market to more people, is the water-soluble CBD.”

The grand opening festivities for LIV CBD are set to start at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 28, with yoga in the courtyard. The Wheelz Pizza truck is expected to be there from noon until 2 p.m., and local artists will have items on display until 5 p.m. 

Jazz legend Benny Hill is scheduled to play his saxophone from 3 to 5 p.m., and Wilmington Wine will be available with a variety of beverages to choose from, the release stated. 

“My goal with the store was to create a community, to create a relaxing place for people,” Skidmore said. “I really just wanted a very calming experience for people, and the feedback that I’ve been getting is that it is calming and cozy. That’s what I associate CBD with – calm."