Spree of dispensary openings continues across New Jersey

New Jersey continues to see more and more cannabis dispensaries setting up shop.

Since the April 2022 launch of legalized recreational sales in the state, more than 160 retail stores have opened. Given the growth of the industry over the past two years, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission is confident the market will surpass the $1 billion mark in 2024.

According to the CRC, dispensaries can be found in all 21 counties across the state. Camden County has the most (18), followed by Burlington County (16) and Atlantic County (16).

By contrast, Salem, Cumberland and Sussex counties have the fewest amount, with only one legalized store reported for each.

Here's a roundup of a few of the dispensaries that launched this summer in New Jersey:

Boone Town Provisions

Boone Town Provisions opened July 28 as the fifth recreational dispensary in Morris County.

Located at 677 Myrtle Ave. in Boonton, the 6,500-square-foot former industrial building was transformed into a modern storefront with an outdoor camping vibe that includes an oversize statue of “Tokey the Bear.”

Its lineup of premium products includes flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vapes, topicals and concentrates.All products are selected from independent producers, reflecting the store’s commitment to support local industry rather than larger multistate operators.

Crafted as a place where both new and experienced cannabis users feel comfortable, Boone Town Provisions has a team of knowledgeable budtenders to guide customers and self-service kiosks for buying.

The shop was founded by Jamie Singer, a Montville mother, and her brother-in-law, Justin Singer, a founding partner at New York City-based Feuerstein Kulick LLP. Last year, Justin Singer also opened Plainfield’s first adult-use dispensary, Queen City Dispensary.

Soon after New Jersey opened its adult-use market, Justin Singer began working with his mother-in-law to bring a dispensary to Union County and his sister-in-law to launch one in Morris County. The attorney considered one of the country’s experts in cannabis licensing helped guide Jamie Singer through the regulatory hurdles required for state licensure.

[box type="shadow" align="alignright" width="30%" ]

By the numbers:

The New Jersey counties with the most cannabis dispensaries are:

• Camden County: 18



• Burlington County: 16



• Atlantic County: 16

Source: NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

[/box]

“We were pursuing opening Boonton and Plainfield simultaneously. The processes were very similar but some of the community in Boonton opposed our initial location as being too close to a school/church. The town voted against that location, but as a result of the public nature of that process, our current landlord reached out to us to let us know that his building was coming available, and this location was unanimously approved by the town council without any local opposition from residents,” he explained to NJBIZ.

A whole new experience

At Boone Town, Justin Singer said the atmosphere “is completely different from Queen City.”

“We take great care to make sure that these stores reflect the communities in which they are located. Boone Town’s vibe reflects the community’s active and community-minded lifestyle, with homages to outdoor recreation and local general store vibes in a large and welcoming environment that is unlike any other dispensary in New Jersey,” he said.

When asked what makes Morris County a great place to open a dispensary, Justin Singer said, “There are only six towns in all of Morris County that opted into the adult use cannabis program There is no other dispensary located within 20 minutes of our location and many people in this area of the state had to drive 30 minutes or more to access a dispensary.”

Boone Town Provisions is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Canna Remedies

Located at 2175 Spruce St. in Ewing, friends-and-family-owned and pharmacist-led dispensary Canna Remedies opened Aug. 15.

At the 7,244-square-foot nature-inspired shop, customers will find a curated menu that features established brands alongside the latest offerings from up-and-coming New Jersey growers. It also offers personalized service that caters to consumers of all experience levels, allowing them to learn about products and comfortably receive expert guidance.

Canna Remedies strives to offer customers the best brand discounts, deals and a menu encompassing various price points. Besides special offers, the dispensary said it will also honor senior (10% for individuals 65-plus), veteran and first responder (15%), government assistance (10%), cannabis industry (10%) and first-time customer (20%) discounts.

Canna Remedies’ team includes Monica Werkheiser as its head of operations. Werkheiser is a graduate of Rutgers University, leading cannabis advocate and educator who spearheaded the initiative for anxiety becoming a qualifying condition for the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana program.

Embracing new possibilities

“We are thrilled to open our doors here in Ewing Township,” said Werkheiser. “Our journey has been one of learning, growing, and embracing new possibilities. Now, with Canna Remedies, we have the opportunity to educate, offer curated experiences, and elevate the standards of wellness through cannabis.”

The store’s head of strategic planning, Victor Guadagnino, is an industry veteran and expert in supply chain relations. He added, “We are excited to showcase a diverse range of cannabis products that cater to all users, whether you're a beginner just starting your journey or a seasoned cannabis enthusiast.”

He said, “We pride ourselves on offering one of the widest selections in the state, with options across all price points from value brands to premium offerings and even bulk options for those who need more. Our product specialists work with our customers to create a personalized regimen that aligns with their needs to ensure the best experience possible.”

According to Canna Remedies, all sales staff members undergo in-house training to ensure they have a deep understanding of cannabis and the specific offerings so they can help customers make informed choices.

Unique programming

Canna Remedies has also developed several educational outreach initiatives that seek to make the consumer experience more approachable.

The venture recently hosted “Cannabis for the Aging Population,” a workshop for senior citizens presented online and at the Ewing Senior and Community Center. Future programs will address topics like what to expect when visiting a dispensary, cannabis strain names, dry herb and concentrate vaping and what are terpenes and cannabinoids.

Canna Remedies is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available.

Conservatory Cannabis Co.

A locally owned and operated recreational dispensary in Egg Harbor, Conservatory Cannabis Co. opened Aug. 17 at 2516 Fire Road.

The dispensary boasts over 1,500 square feet of retail space, selling flower, vapes, pre-rolls, concentrates and edibles. It offers daily deals; online ordering; and a 15% discount for veterans, senior citizens and cannabis industry workers.

Conservatory Cannabis Co.'s small staff boasts 43 years of combined experience in the industry. It is led by Director of Operations Connor Hendrickson, Chief Operating Officer John Fleishman and Chief Executive Officer Kayla Montoro.

"We're bringing something that is unmatched," said Fleishman. "We're crafting a handpicked menu. We want to bring everyone the best, not just whatever is out there."

Conservatory Cannabis is also equipped with cannabis retail technology powered by The Peak Beyond. Currently, there are only four other dispensaries open in New Jersey featuring the platform, making it exclusive to the area.

Additionally, the team is working with Digital Awesome to build a custom mobile app that allows for quicker checkouts, exclusive deals and loyalty campaigns with mini-games. Digital Awesome is only developing with seven New Jersey dispensaries right now, according to Conservatory Cannabis.

Ready to rock

Earlier this summer, Conservatory partnered with a South Jersey concert promoter for a series of free pop-up music events as a way to introduce itself to the public.

According to Conservatory Cannabis, the partnership with Tony Mart Presents was the first of many planned outreach initiatives for the dispensary as part of its mission to support the local community.

Montoro praised the team at Conservatory Cannabis, saying, “They are so special and truly match the experience we envisioned. Customers are going to love getting to know them."

Conservatory Cannabis is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

HudHaus

HudHaus opened Aug. 3 as the first legal adult-use dispensary in North Bergen. The 3,000-square-foot space at 9001 Old River Road is also one of the largest cannabis shops in the area.

With a mission to provide customers with quality products at a competitive price, HudHaus’ menu also includes products that are all grown and processed in New Jersey.

The brands available include Miss Grass, North Lake, Full Tilt Labs, Garden Greens, Fernway, Mudd Brothers and Clade9, as well as items from multistate operators like Terrascend, Verano and Ascend. HudHaus also offers daily deals, online ordering for in-store pickup and free parking.

The venture is a partnership between Pharoah Lozano and Demetrios Kaltsis. Both have worked in real estate and development in North Bergen for two decades.

The executive team also includes Tony Rutondo, who ran a well-known deli in town for 22 years, and Salam Diri, a health and wellness professional in the New York City area for 21 years. Vince Oliver, who has 16 years of experience working in legal markets in California, Colorado and Pennsylvania, serves as general managerr.

Local love

Under the guidance of Diri, HudHaus’ workforce of two dozen budtenders has been undergoing training to ensure they can aid shoppers in picking a product that meets their needs. The dispensary noted that the majority of its employees are from North Bergen, too.

Sales staff was taught everything from how the body’s endocannabinoid system operates and how cannabis products interact with them, to the different forms of cannabis flower, vaporizers, concentrates, edibles, tinctures and topicals and how they can help consumers make the best decisions as to how they prefer to consume cannabis, the dispensary said.

Commenting on the launch, Lozano said, “Opening HudHaus has been a long road. It’s great to be working with my North Bergen friends, Salam, Tony, Demetrios and now Vince, as well our great team of bud tenders to provide our customers with the best experience not only in Hudson County, but in New Jersey.”

HudHaus is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Copyright © 2024 BridgeTower Media. All Rights Reserved.

For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit njbiz.com or sign up for our newsletter .