On February 24, 2022, The Cannabis Review Board approved the city’s first recreational cannabis retail shop that will be located on 51-53 14th Street. Story Dispensary of Hoboken, LLC will replace what was previously Hudson Tavern and will have a 6,000 square foot blueprint on the first floor and basement. According to the application brought before the board, the shop will be open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and staffed by 10-20 employees.
The CEO, Samantha Silva, is a Hoboken resident and bartender at City Bistro. She has done extensive research on the cannabis business — she toured cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey, Delaware, and Colorado. Silva’s business partner, Aaron Epstein, will be providing management services and has already overseen cannabis operations in five different states.
There has been misinformation spread about the kind of retailer Story will be. In Mayor Bhalla’s Update on March 1, he informed the public that, “the current application for a cannabis dispensary is for retail only. No consumption/lounge license was requested by the applicant, and none will be permitted. If approved, only the retail sale of cannabis will be permitted, no cannabis will be consumed on site.”