The former Busy Bee Food Exchange might be getting new life as a cannabis-retail store.
A Cannabis Review Committee meeting notice posted by Brooklyn Community Board 1 lists an applicant for the space at 2 Jewel Street, which shares an address with Busy Bee’s former home at 185 Nassau Avenue.
Greenpoint currently does not have a licensed dispensary, with the closest option located in Williamsburg. Several local license applications are pending approval, according to the state’s Office of Cannabis Management. Last year, a vendor applied to open a cannabis shop in the historic Greenpoint Savings Bank, sparking concern from community members. OCM ultimately approved the vendor’s license, though there have not been any updates on the vendor’s next steps.
Gregory Van Roten, born and raised in Brooklyn, plans to open Chrome Flwrs in the former Busy Bee location. He obtained a retail license in Long Island a couple of years ago, as part of the state’s initiative to award contracts to vendors who served time for cannabis-related offenses. Van Roten was released from prison in 2018.
“The team behind Chrome Flwrs and I could not be more excited to work with the Greenpoint and North Brooklyn community to open the neighborhood’s first legal, licensed cannabis dispensary. We aim to open this spring, as early as April,” he shared.
Van Roten hoped to work with neighbors to assuage fears about the kind of business he plans to run, telling Greenpointers that he wanted an understated environment, not a loud party kind of spot.
“I’m born in Brooklyn. This is where my family and friends are from where we call home, And I’m going to do right by my home,” he said. “That’s why we’re focused on selling the best, tested and safer, cannabis products to the adults who have been waiting for decades for an opportunity like this. For us it’s not just a business, but a chance to make something special that brings joy to our entire neighborhood once we open in a few weeks.”
To hear more about the application, plan to attend CB1’s Cannabis Review Committee meeting tomorrow, March 6, at 6 pm (Swinging Sixties Senior Center, 211 Ainslie St.)
Thanks for sharing this with the community. Anyone who can’t make the meeting on March 6 but would like to make a comment can email the community board before the meeting starts:
→ [email protected]
This is such a large space that could be used to fill actual gaps in our community. Some neighbors I’ve talked to don’t think that weed dispensaries add anything to neighborhoods and are not excited about this, but don’t feel like they really have a say. Some people are excited they don’t have to walk an extra 7 minutes for weed. Others say ‘well, at least it is bringing in money.’ But, money for whom? Genuinely curious to see how this plays out, and hope it is an effective use of that space.
I hope that this owner follows in the footsteps of other local businesses like Variety, Campbell and Co, and Greta whose owners make concerted efforts to contribute to our neighborhood with significant contributions to our local schools and parks. I know that McGolrick park wouldn’t be as beautiful and vibrant and active as it is without some of our local business’ contributions.
Why on this end of the neighborhood? Makes no sense. Too close to the park. Put in on Manhattan Ave.
I am all for legal pot, but follow the time honored rules of how to handle a vice or dangerous object.
1-Don’t promote it.
2-Regulate it. Don’t have one on every corner.
3-Responsibility. Enforce laws against pot smokers if they break the laws ie smoke in prohibited places, smoking pot while driving etc.
These rules worked miracles with cig. smoking and drunk driving but have been a miserable failure with gun deaths and gambling since they have not been applied to them.
What about the families and especially the children-is that what we adults are supposed to show our children and grandchildren?I think not!In the 1970s,in Winthrop park I used to smoke a lot of weed-my mom found out about it,I tried to lie about it and got the beating of my life!