After an unannounced “soft” opening in February, a retail cannabis shop in New Britain is preparing for a grand opening later this month.
The Nova Farms CT medical and recreational dispensary occupies a 3,000-square-foot, leased space at 623 Hartford Road, in a retail-heavy area by the city’s border with West Hartford and New Britain.
“We are excited to bring Nova Farms CT to New Britain and to serve our community with a premier cannabis dispensary,” Nova Farms CT CEO Jason Teal said. “This is more than just a business – it’s about creating opportunities, breaking barriers, and ensuring that everyone has access to quality cannabis products in a welcoming environment.”
Teal, 44, is an entrepreneur who, among other ventures, operates Meriden educational nonprofit Change The Play Inc. He partnered with Massachusetts-based Nova Farms to open the New Britain dispensary under Connecticut’s social equity licensing program.
Launched in 2016, Nova Farms operates three dispensaries in Massachusetts, one in Maine, one in New Jersey and now one in Connecticut. The company is also trying to locate an outdoor growing operation in Connecticut.
The New Britain shop currently employs 20, Teal said. He expects that count to quickly rise to 25. The dispensary, he said, will operate with a licensed pharmacist at all times, offering a curated experience tailored to individual customer tastes and objectives, Teal said.
“We are looking to do a deep dive into medical cannabis; we are not just trying to pick up 30% of the market,” Teal said. That deep dive will include a heavy focus on informing customers through education sessions and highly trained staff, he said.
Teal said New Britain officials have been welcoming.
“It’s more like a partnership, and they try to help you as much as they can,” Teal said.
Nova Farms CT will hold its grand opening on Thursday, March 20. The following day, the shop will release its social equity plan during a “community wellness day,” and host education sessions on natural healing.
