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October 24, 2023

Multi-state cannabis operators seek to open two retail shops in Waterbury

CoStar 53 Interstate Lane, Waterbury is the proposed site for a 5,000-square-foot cannabis retail shop.
Google Maps 99 Brookside Road, Waterbury
By Michael Puffer

Two multi-state cannabis companies with local partners are seeking to open retail cannabis shops in Waterbury.

If approved by the Zoning Commission during its Wednesday meeting, the proposed adult-use retail locations at 99 Brookside Road and 53 Interstate Lane would – along with an existing medical dispensary – fill the maximum tally of three retail cannabis establishments allowed under regulations adopted by the city in May.

Waterbury does not allow commercial cannabis cultivation, a decision rendered by voters at referendum.

99 Brookside, Waterbury

Two limited liability companies tied to Columbia, Missouri-based cannabis retail chain Shangri-La have applied to open a 3,000-square-foot retail operation in leased space at 99 Brookside Road, in an industry-heavy corner of Waterbury. The remaining 6,000 square feet in the building is occupied by Diamond Roofing Specialists.

The applicants for 99 Brookside Road are SLH Connecticut LLC and Shangri-La CT Inc. These “Shangri-La entities” are part of a growing chain of “family-owned” businesses with expertise in retail, business management, medicine and dentistry, according to an application submitted by Stephanie E. Cummings, partner with Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey, LLP.

Shangri-La was founded in Columbia, Missouri in 2021 with a focus on medical cannabis, but has since branched into operations in Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Illinois and Connecticut. An affiliate recently received zoning approval for two recreational cannabis establishments in Norwalk, according to the application.

SLH Connecticut LLC’s business registration with the state lists a mailing address at a Shangri-La superstore location in Columbia, Missouri. Its principals are Hitendrakumar Patel and Kepal Patel. Partnering company Shangri-La CT lists Hartford resident Jocelyn Cerda and Kepal Patel, of Columbia, Missouri as principals in state business filings.

The retail shop would have a 550-square-foot sales floor, with the remaining 2,450 square feet of leased space serving as a secure vault for product, administrative offices and a waiting area. The store would be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with 12 to 15 staff working at any one time, according to the application.
 

53 Interstate Lane

Applicants affiliated with Chicago-based cannabis packaging and retailing giant Green Thumb Industries Inc. have applied to operate a 5,000-square-foot cannabis retail shop at 53 Interstate Lane, an industrial area just off the busy Reidville Drive retail corridor.

The operation would use about a third of the 15,200-square-foot warehouse on 1.8 acres at 53 Interstate Lane. The remainder of the building is leased by Walsh Construction, the company leading repairs to the Mixmaster bridge carrying Interstate 84 and Route 8 through the center of the city.

The property was purchased by Brooklyn-based Interstate Omega LLC for $995,000 last November.

Applicants Southern CT Wellness & Healing and Bay Breeze Botanicals Inc. are also seeking a special permit for earth excavation to create an 80-space parking lot needed to comply with regulations.

Southern Connecticut Wellness & Healing is a licensed medical dispensary-facility operating in Connecticut, which gives it access to two social equity joint venture operations, according to the application. It plans to use one of those options to open an adult-use retail establishment at 53 Interstate Lane.

According to its state business filing, Southern CT Wellness & Healing’s principal is CTI Core LLC. This principal is an affiliate of Chicago-based Green Thumb Industries, which, according to its website, manufactures and distributes cannabis packaged goods at 18 sites. The company also operates 84 retail locations across 15 U.S. markets. It employs approximately 4,000 people and serves millions of patients and customers yearly, according to its website. 

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