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Date: 2/8/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Led by local community leaders Robert Kelly and Lamont Clemens, Primus LLC continues to take steps toward opening a retail marijuana dispensary by the end of this year at 666 State St.
Clemens and Cannabis Consultant for Primus Ezra Parzybok detailed the company’s journey during a Community Outreach meeting on Jan. 31. Parzybok shared that Primus initially submitted their cannabis application in 2018 as a social equity applicant, with the potential business ranking amidst the top 10 of applicants despite not making the final four cut. The group reapplied in 2020 and made it into the accepted list by ranking first among all applicants during that Request for Proposal (RFP) cycle.
The top spot finish propels Primus in their continual development. “Hitting first place was a huge milestone,” said Parzybok in an interview with Reminder Publishing. Clemens and Kelly secured a special permit from the City Council during their Oct. 25 meeting allowing Primus to expand parking at their 666 State St. location. Clemens ensured that the area, which previously served as a restaurant, will maintain the building’s general structure in its transformation to a retail space.
For Clemens, a Springfield native and military veteran with a personal connection to the city, making Primus a supportive pillar of the community remains a paramount objective. “We always think of the community first,” said Clemens in an interview with Reminder Publishing. Clemens shared that Primus continues community outreach efforts to gauge how the business will impact residents, meeting with organizations like the McKnight Neighborhood Council and hosting outreach sessions to net a wide array of opinions.
Parzybok said the outreach process came with some pushback. A few residents feared that the dispensary would bring additional problems to the neighborhood, but Parzybok argued for the reverse effect. “Many assume it will bring more crime, but in reality, Primus’ presence will increase law, security and surveillance as it enters a hyper-compliant industry,” said Parzybok. In his consultant role, Parzybok sees Primus as a crucial representatives for diversity in Springfield business.
Clemens stressed that their support for the community goes beyond their business. He shared that the duo distributed eggs, milk, toilet paper, and chicken to aid local residents during the advent of the pandemic. “We grew up in humble beginnings here in Springfield,” said Clemens. He also stressed the essential role Kelly plays in the community as a basketball instructor, waking up in the early hours of the morning to help athletes reach their peak performance.
Looking forward, Clemens maintains big plans for Primus. The business manager shared his aspirations to incorporate the dispensary within an inventive speakeasy design, which will present a front-facing business, like a diner or sneaker store, before opening up to a dispensary in the back area. “We like to be creativie and we want to draw people through our creativity,” said Clemens.
Primus also plans to grow beyond its dispensary status. Clemens envisions Primus as a rare, minority-owned business that will establish vertical integration through the building of a cultivation site. He said he continues to consult with Pure Oasis owner and dispensary trailblazer Kobie Evans on plans to build out the space.
As for the dispensary, Clemens plans for the space to open sometime before the conclusion of the year.