First medical marijuana dispensary in Wyomissing opens Friday

Andrew Kulp, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

Oct. 21—The medical marijuana industry continues to show signs of growth in Berks County with the opening of a dispensary in Wyomissing on Friday — the borough's first.

The new retail dispensary, Sunnyside, shares a building with Yale Electric Supply at 208 N. Park Road, just up the street from the well-trafficked Knitting Mills mixed-use development.

Sunnyside sells legal cannabis and cannabis products to customers who have obtained a prescription from their health care provider.

It is the fifth Sunnyside location in Pennsylvania and 38th dispensary opened in the U.S. by Chicago-based marijuana wholesaler Cresco Labs.

"We're continuously focused on normalizing the cannabis buying experience," William Butler, senior vice president of retail at Cresco Labs, said in a release.

"Our goal is for patients who prioritize their health and wellness to feel as comfortable buying cannabis products as they do visiting a supermarket or fitness center," he said. "We take great pride in providing education about different products, forms and dosages so they can consume confidently and achieve desired effects."

The nearly 6,000-square-foot retail store did not require special zoning or approval, as Wyomissing amended its zoning ordinance in 2017 to permit medical marijuana dispensaries, the borough confirmed.

The C-3 district that was created essentially allows dispensaries to operate on North Park Road between Greenwich Street and the North Park Road Bridge.

An additional I-3 district was created for medical marijuana processing facilities.

Cresco Labs touted Sunnyside's proximity to The Knitting Mills, which is now home to office buildings as well as popular retailers and restaurants.

The new store — which replaces Yale Electric Supply's showroom, Yale Lighting Concepts & Design at Progress — is also next to the Park Place Center, which houses a number of retailers as well.

"Sunnyside Wyomissing will offer the same bright, welcoming store environment, best selection of top-quality brands and easy online ordering experience that our patients shopping at our other Pennsylvania locations know and trust," Butler said.

The arrival of Sunnyside marks the fourth medical marijuana dispensary in Berks County since it became legal to treat patients with cannabis in Pennsylvania in 2018.

Yale Electric Supply, which has served Berks since 1965, will continue to operate in the space, while Yale Lighting Concepts & Design retains showroom locations in Lancaster and Harrisburg.