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Date: 11/22/2021
NORTHAMPTON – A new dispensary in Northampton called Enlite has officially opened to the public at 391 Damon Rd., making it the eighth dispensary to open in Northampton since adult-use recreational cannabis became legal in Massachusetts in 2016.
The business, which is owned by the Yee, Picknelly and Cutting families, is the first Minority Business Enterprise/Social Equity cannabis dispensary to open in Western Massachusetts, according to a release from the company.
Back in 2016, the families sat down and discussed establishing themselves in the newly conceived cannabis industry within the commonwealth, according to Mark Cutting, Enlite’s president and chief diversity officer. “At some point in time, we decided that we would step into this space and start our business,” he said.
One of the most important aspects of opening the dispensary was finding a proper location, said Cutting. This one, which is right off the Bridge Street roundabout on Route 9, is inside the former Webster’s Fish Hook restaurant that closed in 2020. “This turned out to be the spot available through a relationship that I had with a previous owner, and we ended up working out a buyout for him,” said Cutter. “It’s a beautiful location with the new rotary and just the beautification of the whole area coming off the exit.”
The dispensary sells several pre-rolls, edibles, flower and other types of cannabis products. According to Matt Yee, the dispensary’s chief operating manager, Enlite carries products from all across the state. “One of the big edges we have in this location is we want to showcase selection,” said Yee. “Anything from some of our big multi-state operator brands, to our national brands, down to our small-scale producers.”
Cutting drew parallels between the cannabis industry in Massachusetts to the electronic distribution business he was a part of since 1982, saying that they are both highly regulative and restrictive. The Yee family, meanwhile, carries an extensive background in the restaurant and entertainment business. Their Bean Restaurant Group, which was led by Andy Yee until he died of a recurrence of cancer in May, features 15 restaurants, and includes staples like White Hut, Johnny’s Roadside Diner, and Student Prince Café and the Fort Dining Room. The Picknelly family owns the Peter Pan Bus empire and are business partners with the Yees in multiple projects. Both families specifically partnered to save White Hut in 2020, as well as the Student Prince and the Fort in 2014.
“My background in restaurant management and hospitality really lends it to the retail setting in cannabis dispensaries,” said Yee.
The owners are excited for an expansion of product in the market, including new technology and new types of edibles and concentrates. Beyond that, Enlite is also on the cusp of expanding into Indian Orchard in Springfield. This is set to occur in 2022.
The dispensary conducted their ribbon cutting ceremony on Nov. 18, and plan to have a week-long grand opening “CANNACOPIA” celebration on Nov. 27. The grand opening will showcase some of the “top cannabis brands” in the region. Everyone over age of 21 is welcome, and local artists, food trucks and product demonstrations will be present.
The dispensary is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.