Blackstone Family Grocer proposes alternative spot for cannabis store
BLACKSTONE — Gurpreet Kalra, proprietor of the Family Grocer convenience store on Main Street, told selectmen Tuesday that he is abandoning his original proposal to operate a retail cannabis dispensary on the second floor of the existing store building at 202 Main St., and will, instead, locate the cannabis business in a vacant storefront building he is purchasing across the street at 199 Main St.
The change in location was in response to concerns voiced at a community outreach meeting last November, in which several residents said they were troubled by the thought of a licensed cannabis retail store would be located in 1,368-square feet on the second floor of the convenience store, which is near the Blackstone Valley Boys and Girls Club on Canal Street, a children’s playground and the new bike path.
“After hearing the voices of the town and the public, we will be moving it to 199 Main St., right across the street from the store, which will be away from the park and hidden with no straight visual from the park,” Kalra told the board Tuesday.
The change in location means that Kalra’s original plan has been substantively changed and in order for him to secure a host community agreement with the town, he must hold another public community outreach meeting on the new plan. That meeting will be held March 19 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Blackstone Public Library. The meeting is required by the state’s Cannabis Control Commission before any local permitting begins.
Kalra, who is applying for a retail license from the CCC to operate the dispensary, said the new location is a 2,000-square foot storefront at 199 Main St., that once housed a storefront Baptist church called Iglesia Misionera Jehova Shalom.
The building, which was on the market for $189,000, sits on 0.24 acres and has a drive-under garage and ample parking.
Karla’s original plan to locate the cannabis retail store on in 1,368-square feet on the second floor of the Family Grocer building drew sharp criticism from residents at the community outreach meeting last November, especially from town resident and attorney Daniel Doyle, who pointed out that the proposed retail facility would be located 320 yards from the Blackstone Valley Boys and Girls Club on Canal Street, which he helped establish in 1993. Doyle is also chairman of the club’s board of directors.
“I have a real concern with this facility located in such close proximity to the entrance of our facility, not to mention there is a children’s playground 50 feet away as well as the new bike path,” Doyle said at that meeting. “I personally don’t agree with the marijuana law and I wish it was never passed, but it’s here. I just don’t think this is an appropriate location for this kind of activity.”
Also registering his opposition at the meeting was Dr. Gary Piette, pastor of Solid Rock Baptist Church on Main Street, who also urged Kalra to find another location.
“I agree there’s nothing we can do to prevent this, but as a father, family man and businessman do you really feel that that transforming a convenience store into a marijuana dispensary will really benefit the town?” he asked Kalra. “I can’t believe that you or the town would jeopardize a generation of kids for a few dollars. I can’t stop you, but I want to be on record that I vehemently oppose this.”
Kalra said he takes those concerns seriously and will do everything in his power to ensure the safety of children.
All employees, he says, will be 21 years or older and will hold a CCC-issued marijuana agent license following a background check. A vault to store product will only be accessible by the manager and the facility will have an alarm system and inside and outside security cameras, among other things.
Prospective marijuana businesses like Kalra are required to secure host community agreements before they can apply for a license from the state. Under the law, local officials can also set the tax rate on marijuana sold within their city or town’s limits, up to 3 percent.