Adult-use cannabis sales have begun at the former Friendly’s restaurant near The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester, the town’s second recreational marijuana dispensary.
Curaleaf Manchester began adult-use sales Monday at 240 Buckland St., the company announced, which is the fourth recreational cannabis dispensary the Massachusetts-based firm has opened in Connecticut. Curaleaf’s Hartford, Stamford and Groton dispensaries have also opened for adult-use sales since January’s recreational market launch.
The new facility in Manchester is a relocation of its Milford facility, according to the company’s website. Initially the company was exploring the possibility of moving its Hartford dispensary to Manchester, according to records, but ultimately Milford was relocated.
According to documents submitted to the town, Curaleaf signed a 10-year lease for the 1.05-acre property in March 2022. The parcel is owned by Manchester CT Realty Ventures LLC.
The site, down the road from The Shoppes at Buckland Hills mall in Manchester and Evergreen Walk in South Windsor, is near Interstate 84. Curaleaf said it’s hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the property Friday.
Fine Fettle Manchester began adult-use operations in the town in February.
While Curaleaf has been expanding its footprint in Connecticut, the company has pulled out of some other markets across the country. The company announced in January it was closing a majority of its operations in California, Colorado and Oregon and consolidating cultivation and processing operations in Massachusetts to the company’s facility in Webster, closing its Amesbury location.
As part of the nationwide closures, Curaleaf said it reduced its payroll by 10%. In total, the cost savings will help the company realize $60 million in “gross run-rate expense savings” this year, Curaleaf said.
