Peek Inside: Hoboken's First Cannabis Dispensary, Founded By Filmmaker, Is Now Open

HOBOKEN, NJ — Even with both medical and recreational cannabis now legal in New Jersey, dispensary owners have faced a slow path toward opening in the Garden State, especially in tiny Hoboken. But as of three weeks ago, the mile-square city has its first dispensary.

The Station — a medical dispensary that will also offer recreational marijuana at some point in the future — quietly opened for business on the last Monday in October.

The spacious business is located on the ground floor of a stately office building at River and Newark streets, just two blocks from the Hoboken train station and a short walk from the Hudson River waterfront.

The owner of The Station — Joe Castelo — had a bit of an advantage, as he owns the building, as well as two other businesses in the same building: The Antique Loft, a sixth-floor event space with catering, and Sweven, a creative space where artists and entrepreneurs can work or hold events.

But Castelo still spent nearly five years working on The Station, he said. He hopes to open for recreational use in the next few months, and just needs approval from the Hoboken Cannabis Review Board, after getting other state and local approvals.

Castelo, who also owns Antique Bar and Bakery (a popular restaurant) and the newer Antique at 112, said that after he came up with the theme for "The Station," he had the ground floor space decorated accordingly.

The stained glass, lighting, antique doors, and wood fixtures are meant to be an homage to the 1907 Erie Lackawana Train Station nearby.

The railroad is also a metaphor for the cannabis journey, he said.

"What's your destination?" he asked, as he gave a tour on Monday. "It could be that you're seeking sleep or calm. Or creativity."

Creativity is something Castelo knows, as a filmmaker. Besides working on his own projects, he also fosters other people's creativity, with coworking and podcast spaces at Sweven upstairs. He said the Station and the other businesses will benefit each other.

Jawan Robinson, the community director of both The Station and Sweven, said cannabis customers have come in from all over, particularly from Hoboken, Jersey City, Weehawken, and New York City. They often stop off during their commute.

The ground-floor space has a large waiting room, then a room with counters for sales. Patrons can come right to order, Robinson said, and workers will check the state database to find out what their allotment is.

They offer various products and plan to have doctors at the facility to see patients in the near future, Robinson said. Among items for sale are "1906 pills," a popular blend of cannabis and caffeine.

Castelo said he hopes to someday hold cannabis events upstairs at the Loft, which has a panoramic view of Hoboken and the New York skyline (see photo above).

"We hope to plan some unique cultural events," Castelo said. "Hoboken has a unique ecosystem."

In a release, Castlo said, “Hoboken is a city of many firsts, and The Station will be a new first for Hoboken as we usher in destigmatization and cannabis legalization in the Garden State. I'm honored to be but a small part of bringing safe and exciting products to everyone in my hometown.”

The Station is part of the brand Terrapin Care Station. It's located at 86 River St. and is currently open every day except Monday. Find out more on its website here.

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