West Hartford’s first adult-use cannabis dispensary is set to open next week, the founders announced.
Budr Cannabis, owned by local home healthcare entrepreneur Derrick Gibbs Jr. and industry veteran Carl Tirella Jr., is hosting its grand opening Monday, July 31, at 1037 Boulevard, West Hartford. The adult-use cannabis retailer will be the first to open in West Hartford and one of five Tirella and Gibbs plan to open across the state by 2025.
Budr Cannabis received approvals from West Hartford in late 2022 to open the dispensary after leasing up to 4,000 square feet for the retail store. The company hired Berlin-based Fortunato Construction Group to build out the facility.
The business is an equity venture partnership with a team of social equity entrepreneurs and Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries (GTI), which owns West Haven cannabis cultivation facility Advanced Grow Labs and two Connecticut dispensaries.
An equity joint venture is a business that is at least 50% owned and controlled by an individual or individuals that meet social equity criteria, including having an average household income of less than 300% of the state median household income over the last three tax years, and living in an area disproportionately impacted by drug-related convictions.
Next week’s grand opening will begin at 8 a.m. featuring music from DJ Kareem and Hot 93.7’s Jenny Boom Boom. Espresso Guys Mobile Espresso Catering Service will be serving refreshments during the morning, and West Hartford officials are also expected to be in attendance. The first 50 customers on the day will receive a 50% discount on their purchase, and subsequent customers will get 20% off through Thursday, August 3.
BUDR Cannabis opens as West Hartford’s first dispensary next week | Skyler Frazer