Buffalo, NY – It’s closing six months after Dank became the first dispensary in Western New York to cut the ribbon and open its doors.
This isn’t the only milestone to come.
“We’re about to hit $5 million in gross sales right now,” said owner Aaron Van Camp. “It’s nothing like I ever expected. I expected him to do half that.”
Van Camp said he’s grateful for the support he’s received from the Buffalo community since the inauguration but it’s a little bittersweet.
“It hurts to be here with (fellow licensee) Glenn (Miller) because we worked so well together,” he said. “My girlfriend, her girlfriend, did more work on this problem than anyone we know and when the injunction went into effect they were basically weeks away from opening it,” he said.
Van Camp said he and most other conditional adult use retail dispensary (CAURD) licensees were all working together, but he was able to get a court order to freeze the industry for the rest of 2023. Miller was putting up the sign Friday for East Leaf Dispensary on Clinton Street in Cheektowaga and is expected to open this month.
Miller said, “When Aaron opened we were happy. It’s been tough for me and my wife Gina, but we’re getting through it and if all goes well we should be open in the next two or three weeks.” Will go.”
He said that although it has been difficult to wait so long to finally open, he is pleased that the market has been so attractive to Dank.
“We’re excited because we think we can produce like Aaron did. We just need to stay open and we’ll figure out over the next few weeks what we’ll be able to offer our community but we feel like it’s within our control.” “I’m in,” Miller said.
Van Camp said everyone helped him, so he’s trying to repay the favor at other shops like Premier Earth, which recently opened on Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo, and Buffalo Dreams on Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst. , which is also almost open. He said he’s there for advice on products being sold, marketing, state regulations and anything else.
“I’ve made a pretty good deal out of it. My family and I never expected the kind of reception that we got and I want to give back and make sure everyone is OK and the program “Everyone is doing the best they can.” ” He said.
Van Camp said he has been able to share his success with his employees as well, noting that he is able to pay most of his employees between $23 and $30 an hour.
