Rapper-Backed Newark Weed Dispensary Turns Eye To Opening Day, Hiring

NEWARK, NJ — Things are puffing along at full speed for a highly anticipated cannabis dispensary and lounge in New Jersey’s largest city.

Earlier this week, the partners behind Hashstoria’s newest location at 799-805 Broad Street in Newark announced that they have received a class five cannabis retail license from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

It’s a huge milestone for the company, which includes Hashstoria co-founder and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon the Chef. Now, the project appears to have enlisted another well-known stakeholder from the music industry: Charlamagne tha God.

Other partners include civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers and architect Rachael Grochowski of Montclair-based RHG Architecture + Design.

The company has three existing facilities in Oregon.

The plan is to transform a blighted-but-historic building in downtown Newark’s Four Corners neighborhood, building out a multi-floored marijuana dispensary that will also include a consumption lounge, where customers can partake of a toke – or two.

With New Jersey still hashing out state rules for consumption areas, the dispensary area of Hashstoria-Newark will likely open first. According to Hashstoria, the goal is to open the dispensary in “early 2024” and evolve it into a smoking lounge later in the year.

Raekwon previously posted a message on Instagram about the planning board's approval of Hashstoria in Newark, saying that it will be a "culture-shifting endeavor" and it is "guaranteed to be the top tier consumption lounge / dispensary to hit the east coast period."

The Wu-Tang Clan member shared another update in late August, which included a glimpse inside the property (watch the video here).

“We are located right in the heart of the city so we want to create a space, employment for all community members to gather and witness the finest greenery on the planet,” he said, adding that the company has “the best professional growers on deck.”

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Now – with the project starting to really heat up – the partners at Hashstoria-Newark are even more excited for what’s to come, they say.

“The Hashstoria team is grateful to the mayor's office and to the city council for their collaboration, and we will continue to work closely with them as we take the next steps in this amazing endeavor,” Sellers said.

“We are extremely proud to become members of this great community and will strive daily to have a positive impact and help bring cannabis opportunities to a community that spent decades as targets of the failed War on Drugs,” Sellers added.

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Grochowski said the design of the new dispensary/lounge will help to push a burgeoning industry into a “new realm of excellence.”

“Design will play a pivotal role in shaping the comprehensive experience of our customers, from the very moment one enters,” Grochowski enthused.

Artist renderings of the Hashstoria location in Salem, Oregon – which was created by RHG Architecture + Design – may give a glimpse into the design style that is coming to the Brick City.

Looking to get a job at Hashstoria-Newark? There may be a chance to get your foot in the door, the company says.

“As the team looks towards the future, we are excited to start our search for community members that would make a great addition to our team,” the company stated. “If you are interested in learning more about these Hashstoria and opportunities in Newark, please email us at newarkinfo@hashstoria.com.”

• See Related: Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon Plans To Open Cannabis Lounge In NJ
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