Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

August 19, 2024

State’s 1st drive-thru cannabis dispensary opens in Manchester

HBJ FILE PHOTO Tiana Hercules at an event in Hartford.
By David Krechevsky

A Hartford councilwoman has opened the state’s first drive-thru cannabis dispensary in Manchester.

AYR Cannabis Manchester is a retail outlet of AYR Wellness, a Florida-based cannabis company with 94 locations in eight states. It opened Aug. 16 in a 1,600-square-foot building at 185 Spencer St. that formerly was home to a Starbucks coffee shop.

The franchise is held by AYR in a partnership with Connecticut Cultivation Solutions, which is co-owned by Tiana Hercules, an attorney and Hartford city councilwoman. 

Connecticut Cultivation Solutions was awarded a Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA) license to operate in Connecticut and combines Hercules’ expertise and community ties with AYR’s experience in operating dispensaries.

The location is the first for AYR Wellness in Connecticut and is the first dispensary in the state to offer drive-thru service. AYR said the drive-thru will allow customers to explore and purchase premium cannabis products “from the comfort of their car.”

The company said the location will cater to both adult-use consumers and medical patients.

This is the third cannabis dispensary in Manchester, joining Curaleaf and Fine Fettle, both of which are located in the Buckland area.

In addition to locations in Florida and Connecticut, AYR Wellness has dispensaries in Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

AYR Cannabis Manchester plans to hold a grand opening on Friday, Aug. 23, from noon to 5 p.m., offering a 20% discount storewide. Mayor Jay Moran and Chamber of Commerce President Millie Texidor-Maffucci are expected to attend.

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF