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It used to be a pre-school, sitting next door to a bustling Dairy Queen in one of the busiest streets in the city. Now the converted building, featuring a beautiful mural outside and an artful esthetic indoors, houses the first legal cannabis store to open in Union County.
Queen City Dispensary, which takes its moniker from the city operates in, Plainfield, kicked off sales with a grand opening celebration on Sept. 7.
Owners Sarah Stretchberry and Jennifer Brandt said that they were overjoyed they’re finally opened.
“I was born and raised in Plainfield and in towns right next door. It’s a wonder that we have finally reached this point where a legal weed shop is in the city. We are excited to be the first,” said Brandt.
City administration, community members and cannabis industry insiders shared in the celebration with street vendor food and entertainment in the parking lot of the new adult-use cannabis dispensary, located 1353 South Ave. They cut the ribbon and officially opened doors at 4:20 p.m., a nod to the famous weed holiday 420.
Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, center, speaks during the opening ceremony at Queen City Dispensary in Plainfield on Thursday, September 7, 2023.John J. LaRosa | For NJ Advance
Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp spoke about the decade-long, billion dollar economic development campaign that his administration has undertaken to make use of blighted real estate throughout the city. He considers new cannabis businesses like Queen City to be a vital part of that plan.
“People from neighboring municipalities have always been shopping here for their joints,” said Mapp. “But they were coming here and we were not getting any revenue. All we were getting was crime.”
“We all know about the War on Drugs and what it has meant to the city of Plainfield. There have been a disproportionate number of our people that have suffered under the weight of the law on drugs,” he said.
He said he was committed to working with investors and developers to ensure that these impacted residents get a chance to be gainfully employed.
The opening ceremony, mastered by Economic Development Director Zenobia Fields, included a declaration that Sept. 7 will be Queen City Remedies Day in Plainfield. Comments from City Council President Charles McRae and co-owner Justin Singer were also given.
Co-owner Justin Singer, left, and Plainfield Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, right, listen to Plainfield Economic Development Director Zenobia Fields speak during the opening ceremony at Queen City Dispensary in Plainfield on Thursday, September 7, 2023.John J. LaRosa | For NJ Advance
“It’s an honor to stand here on behalf of the entire Queen City team, who have deep roots here. We are residents, and we hope to serve the community well. We take that responsibility to heart. The response has already been overwhelming,” said Singer, who is a founding partner at Feuerstein Kulick LLP.
He spoke about how the shop is named for Plainfield, which is also known as “the Queen City.” The ceremony took place in front of the huge mural on the side of the building featuring scenes of landmarks and well-known symbols of the city.
“A neighborhood joint,” their motto, proclaims their commitment to serving the people of Plainfield.
Ariell Hunt, who worked at the Phoenix Pre-School before it closed, knew the dispensary was coming to the building. She got some cannabis education and experience at another shop before applying to work at Queen City.
From left, co-owner Justin Singer, owner Jennifer Brandt, and Sarah Stretchberry stand together inside Queen City Dispensary in Plainfield on Thursday, September 7, 2023.John J. LaRosa | For NJ Advance
Queen City was born when Singer told his mother-in-law, Brandt, about the opportunity to open a legal weed shop in Plainfield. They purchased and remodeled a pre-school that was going out of business, and brought on Stretchberry for the design vision of the store. They worked very closely throughout the application process with the city to bring the business to fruition.
Sulema, right, hands a customer food from a food truck outside Queen City Dispensary in Plainfield on Thursday, September 7, 2023.John J. LaRosa | For NJ Advance
After the ribbon cutting, guests enjoyed music mixed by DJ Troy while waiting in line to enter the dispensary and patronizing the Atomo Arepas food truck, who catered the party with arepas and churros for the first 100 customers.
Administration and attendees took turns posing for photos in front of the beautiful mural painted by artist Danielle Mastrion.
The mural depicting scenes and important symbols of Plainfield, NJ was painted on the side of Queen City Remedies cannabis store by artist Danielle Mastrion.
The art doesn’t stop there. The inside of the store also has art representative of Plainfield. Framed prints are the first features customers see as they enter the sales floor after signing in at the security desk.
A glass display encases packages of the products available for purchase. Atop the display case is a bud bar made up of acrylic boxes with magnifying lenses where customers can get a closer look at flower buds that are currently in stock.
Queen City has a diverse menu, carrying brands such as 1906, Wana, Legend, B Noble, Branson’s, Savvy, Avexia, Grassroots, Gage, Cookies and many others that can be found throughout the Garden State.
They also carry accessories like pipes, sheets, matches and lights, merchandise with the Queen City logo and weed storage solutions.
The interior of the Queen City Remedies cannabis store in Plainfield, NJ.
The shop’s hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.–10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. There are two ATMs onsite, but they also accept Dutchie Pay. They offer a loyalty program to their customers to receive discounts and prizes.
The smiling staff was very knowledgeable. Though I used the kiosk to order my products before I got in line, a staff member was still on-hand to help me. She guided my selection of the right concentrate for my needs after I told her what I did and did not want to feel.
When I got to the cashier’s desk, I was pleased to see that the entire menu was also available for viewing on an outward-facing touch screen attached to the register.
I was even more pleased to learn that I had scored 20% off my order for signing up for their loyalty program, at the suggestion of my cashier, Gavin. If he hadn’t asked, I would have paid full price! I made sure to slide a $5 bill into the tip jar located on the counter for the wonderful service I received.
Check out this photo gallery of the grand opening celebration.
Have a question about consuming weed? Ask me anything.
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Gabby Warren is NJ.com’s Cannabis Life reporter. She’ll be covering all things weed retail, commerce and culture.
EDITOR’S NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider, NJ.com’s B2B cannabis industry trade journal and events vertical, is hosting the state’s first major business conference on Oct. 12. Tickets are limited.