New Small Craft Cannabis Store Proposed On Route 22 In Somerset County

SOMERVILLE, NJ — Bridgewater local Joe Savino and Princeton local James Barr are one step closer to bringing Root 22 Dispensary, a small craft cannabis store, to Route 22 in Somerville.

The Somerville Council approved a resolution supporting Savino and Barr's efforts to open their store at the Monday night meeting.

"We feel this will be an asset to the community. The idea is kind of to have a small craft cannabis store," said Barr.

The pair are signing a 10 year lease for the property at the corner of Route 22 East and Gaston Avenue in Somerville with the plan to eventually acquire the property.

Currently, the property houses a Sunoco gas station, which will be completely removed and replaced with a two-story less than 4,000 square-foot store.

Barr noted there are already five gas stations clustered in the area and Root 22 would bring an "opportunity to diversify the area."

The location was also touted as ideal since it is not near any schools or bordering any homes.

The store would offer kiosks inside for customers to place orders or customers can work with an employee to make an order.

Electric charging stations would also be placed in the parking lot.

The plan still needs to be approved by the Somerville Planning Board. If it is, Root 22 Dispensary is hoping to open by January 2025.

Somerville Mayor Dennis Sullivan said the borough has two licenses available for cannabis organizations.

"Although we've had a lot of inquiries over the last few years we have not yet had an application," said Sullivan at the meeting. "This is the first organization to get this far in the process."

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