Futureuncertainfor Cromwell's two cannabis retail outlets on Route 372
Jul. 10—Fine Fettle CEO Ben Zachs holds a special permit to operate a cannabis business at 5 Berlin Road, located on 5.3 acres of wooded land close to Parisian Salon & Day Spa. He said in late March that he expected to open a hybrid facility by the end of 2023.
The property is up for sale by Royal Properties of New York and being billed as ideal for retail, medical, restaurant, bank and cannabis retail sales. The purchase includes both the property and approved special permit, according to the website.
Zachs did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Fine Fettle has locations in Manchester, Newington, Willimantic and Stamford, as well as two in Massachusetts. Old Saybrook and Norwalk recreational locations are "coming soon," according to the website.
The CEO said in the spring that he expected the Fine Fettle shop to be between 4,500 and 5,000 square feet in size and offer adult-use only sales. At the time, he described the building design would be two-tone with a white and wood facade.
The plot formerly was owned by Michael Cannata, vice president of the Planning and Zoning Commission, but was sold to Fine Fettle, Director of Planning and Development Stuart Popper said Monday.
The applications for both Fine Fettle and 6 West Ave., the latter regarding the site of a former cleaners, were received in late June.
Little activity is happening at the former Riverdale Cleaners at 33 Berlin Road, according to Popper. The building is located less than a half-mile away from 5 Berlin Road.
The group's application to repurpose the building as a retail marijuana outlet was approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission in October.
Andrew Simonow, doing business as 6 West Ave., has a special permit to sell cannabis at the 3,184-square-foot building. The hybrid facility is expected to serve both adult-use recreational and medical patients with storefront and delivery services, he said in late March.
The exterior Riverdale Cleaners lettering has been removed, and the building was dark and unoccupied Friday. The interior appeared to be mostly gutted.
Simonow did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
New construction on, and the repurposing of existing buildings for, cannabis shops are less common in the state. The trend, among many cannabis businesses in Connecticut, has been to expand medical cannabis dispensaries into hybrid facilities, such as True Leaf in Bristol, Popper said. "You're not opening any new stores on the ground, you're converting existing stores," he said. "That's what seems to have happened."
Cromwell has limited the number of outlets allowed to operate in town to two. The municipality also prohibits use of cannabis on public land.
The public has supported marijuana businesses coming to town.
"[Planning and Development] had two stores. They never opened," Popper added, "... Everybody was all psyched to go and they never did anything."
Middletown so far has approved only one facility, a single special exception permit for Venu, operated by Bluepoint Wellness. It is expected to open a retail cannabis facility at 895 Washington St. on Route 66 later this month.
Beginning July 1, the state Department of Consumer Protection began allowing all adults 21 and older to grow up to three mature and three immature plants in their home, with a maximum of 12 plants per household. The law stipulates that cannabis plants must be grown indoors, out of public view and in a locked space.
Also on July 1, annual registration fees for the medical marijuana program, formerly $100 for individuals and $25 for caregivers, were eliminated. For information on adult-use cannabis in Connecticut, visit portal.ct.gov.
