In the realm of real estate, an old adage rings true: the significance of location cannot be overstated. New York City, as the most densely populated fully legalized cannabis city, presents unique challenges when trying to locate a suitable storefront that doesn’t fall within 1,000 feet of another.
A trio of brothers, of Dominican origin and brought up in Queens, have set their sights on launching a cannabis dispensary and consumption lounge at the site of the former Nat Sherman cigar lounge. This prime location sits on 42nd street, in close proximity to the bustling Grand Central Terminal in the center of midtown Manhattan.
The city, however, has determined that this location falls within 1,000 feet of the financially struggling, medical-only MedMen store on Fifth Ave. The potential Nat Sherman address is just about 990 feet from MedMen as the crow flies, but the actual walking distance between the two easily surpasses 1,000 feet.
The brothers contend that their plight seems unjust, especially given their status as social justice applicants who find themselves disadvantaged by a multistate operator presently liquidating its New York holdings.
The Polanco brothers (all sharing the name Jose) received a license as CAURD applicants. An arrest for possession in one brother’s younger days made them eligible to apply as social justice candidates. They’ve been proposed an alternative location, but they are drawn to the elegant, wood-panelled two-story townhouse they currently lease.
“From the New York City mayor to the governor, along with local and state elected officials, and even civic and community leaders, there’s a shared ambition to rejuvenate the Midtown East commercial district into a round-the-clock ‘live-work-play’ hotspot,” Polanco stated. “My brothers and I aim to transform the former cigar lounge into an elite destination for cannabis users, a place that dismantles existing stigmas surrounding cannabis use and educates the public about its many advantages.”
The Polanco brothers have reached out to the New York Office of Cannabis Management for a waiver that would permit them to set up shop at this location. They are currently awaiting a response. A representative noted that the approval is currently delayed due to an informal technicality.
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