Recreational marijuana shop to open in Franklin in first half of new year

Mike Deak, MyCentralJersey.com
·2 min read
12

FRANKLIN (Somerset) - Unity Rd., the first national cannabis dispensary franchise in the United States, will open its first New Jersey recreational marijuana shop in the township in the first half of 2023.The shop site will be located in a strip mall at 441 Elizabeth Ave.

Dishen Patel, owner of the shop, has received approval from both the state and the township, to open the business.

Patel has spent the past decade in private equity investing in consumer-driven brands, including several franchise restaurants.

“I was seeking next-generation business opportunities in hypergrowth industries in which I had a passion,” Patel said in a press release, recognizing that the $28 billion U.S. cannabis market is on track to reach $46 billion by 2026. “I know how to run a retail business, but the cannabis space is layered with complexities. I needed a direct route to alleviate barriers to entry and set myself up for success, while confidently making decisions.”

Unity Rd. has a licensing agreement with Patel. The company will provide with consulting services across and various business matters, including real estate, licensing, compliance, operations, product procurement and marketing.

“With the Unity Rd. team guiding me at every step, I am able to yield their expertise to operate and grow my future dispensary, while keeping my attention focused on what matters most – providing my neighbors with a trusted local cannabis source they can rely on in the New Jersey community,” Patel said.

Unity Rd. which has four shops open across the United States, is owned by Arizona-based Item 9 Labs.

"Introducing our Unity Rd. brand to New Jersey represents another company milestone. Not only will we be entering a new cannabis market, but we are expanding our footprint in a high-population region that is increasingly supporting legalization," said Item 9 Labs Corp. CEO, Mike Weinberger. "We believe that as the New Jersey adult-use cannabis market continues to take off, the industry will reflect positively on the state's economy and residents."

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Recreational marijuana shop to open in Franklin in first half of 2023