A smash & grab at the Grab & Go on Avenue B

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

It was more like Smash & Grab at the newish (and unlicensed) Grab & Go Convenience at 23 Avenue B. 

Last Sunday morning, someone smashed the front door here between Second Street and Third Street...

A store employee told me the thief stole some weed (mostly prerolls) and "not too much stuff" but was "caught already." 

Meanwhile, there's plywood treatment at the space, now with a rolldown gate in place as of Wednesday.

Signage alert: Kaliiva, a cannabis dispensary for Avenue B

Photo by Salim 

Signage arrived late last week for Kaliiva at 11 Avenue B between Houston and Second Street, the latest (currently unlicensed) cannabis dispensary for the neighborhood. (We mentioned this pending arrival on Dec. 19.) 

This will be the first NYC shop for the Washington, D.C.-based business offering "premium edibles, flower, vapes and pre-rolls."

Kaliiva takes over the storefront in this Steve Croman-owned building after the departure of Raul's Barber Shop, which held forth for six decades. Raul Velez Sr. decided to retire in 2022 at age 81 (and after a rent hike). His nephews opened a new spot at 256 E. Third St. between Avenue B and Avenue C. 

Former illegal cannabis dispensary now for rent on 1st Avenue and 11th Street

For rent signs arrived this past week at the storefront on the SE corner of First Avenue and 11th Street. (H/T Steven.)

This had been the Recreational Plus Cannabis Dispensary, an illegal shop that had been busted several times. (A Restraining Order was visible inside the front window here at 180 First Ave.)

The business' Yelp page still notes, "Recreational Plus East Village is temporarily closed. Scheduled to reopen on January 1, 2024.") 

The signage arrived for Recreational Plus in October... it was later removed, though the shop remained in operation.

The previous retail tenant here was Eleven Consignment Boutique, which closed amid a legal battle in November 2019.

This building, with the dual Michael Jackson murals, is also for sale. 

The new smoke shops of lower Avenue B

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Grab & Go Convenience is now open at 23 Avenue B between Second Street and Third Street. 

It's a full-service smoke shop offering flower, cartridges, edibles, prerolls, lozenges/candies, etc. Plus, tobacco products. And, uh, sex toys. (We said full service!)

Meanwhile, a smoke shop is also in the works for 9-11 Avenue B, one block to the south... in space that was, for six decades, Raul's Barber Shop. 

These shops will compete with Green Line, which opened in late October at 42 Avenue B between Third Street and Fourth Street...

The 9-11 Avenue B and 42 Avenue B spaces are in buildings owned by Steve Croman.

Illegal cannabis dispensary seeing blue this morning

Photos by William Klayer 

A quick note via the EVG tipline... law enforcement officials were spotted inside the Recreational Plus Cannabis Dispensary on the SE corner of First Avenue and 11th Street. 

A Restraining Order is also posted on the front window here at 180 First Ave. (FYI: This building is also for sale.) 

From the street, the shop appears to be empty. (The business' Yelp page notes, "Recreational Plus East Village is temporarily closed. Scheduled to reopen on January 1, 2024.") 

The signage arrived for it back in October... it was later removed, though the shop remained in operation.

This happens to be one block north of Go Green Dispensary, where on Tuesday, local elected officials came together, spoke out against unlicensed cannabis shops in Lower Manhattan, and called on landlords to stop renting to these businesses.

Like Go Green Dispensary, this operation is close to multiple schools (East Side Community School and PS 19 East Village Community School) and the mosque on the NE corner of 11th Street and First Avenue.

Local elected officials call out landlords renting to unlicensed cannabis shops

Image via Harvey Epstein's office 

Local elected officials came together yesterday to speak out against unlicensed cannabis shops in Lower Manhattan and call on landlords to stop renting to these businesses. 

Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, Councilmember Carlina Rivera and Sen. Brian Kavanagh gathered with community members outside Go Green Dispensary on the SE corner of 10th Street and First Avenue. Officials pointed out that this dispensary is close to multiple schools (East Side Community School and PS 19 East Village Community School) and the mosque on 11th Street and First Avenue. 

According to officials, legal cannabis dispensaries — licensed by the New York State Office of Cannabis Management — are prohibited from operating within 500 feet of a school or 200 feet of a religious institution.

As of August, a new city law that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops is in effect. 

Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

During the rally, Epstein announced that he was sending letters to the landlords of 22 shops stating their renters were selling cannabis illegally and advising them of their responsibilities under the law and penalties for failure to comply.

"Unlicensed cannabis shops are a threat to consumers, the legal market, and our entire community,” Epstein said. “As a supporter of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, I believe that the sale of cannabis should be used as an instrument of social justice, allowing individuals who have suffered the impact of criminalization to enter the market legally and receive priority status when applying for their licenses. Unlicensed shops like these perilously undermine that goal while also evading safety requirements and taxes."

Representatives from Housing Works Cannabis Co., NYC's first legal dispensary that opened last December on Broadway at Eighth Street, were also present to talk about the negative impact these businesses have on the legal market.

"Currently operated illegal cannabis businesses are supported by multiple out-of-state and international investors. These investors can afford to pay the fines and renegotiate terms for retail space," said Anthony Feliciano, vice president of the advocacy department at Housing Works. "Additionally, landlords repeatedly allow their commercial storefronts to be re-opened by either the same tenant or a new renter after being seized by the sheriff's department. We need more administrative mechanisms and legislation designed to get the landlord's attention."

A primer on Community Board 3's role in the permit process for legal cannabis shops

Photo and reporting by Stacie Joy

50 Avenue A, home to a proposed new cannabis-related business

If you follow the monthly Community Board 3 meetings list, you likely noticed a new category — the Cannabis Control Task Force.

On Oct. 4, the New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) opened up AU, or Adult Usage, licensing and permitting to sell cannabis in retail stores in NYC to the public. 

As The City noted: "Under the state's 2021 law, a retail applicant must notify their local community board at least 30 days before submitting their application to the state and identify their proposed business location. But that provision was barely noticed until now because retail licenses had previously been limited to justice-impacted individuals whose store locations were provided by the state."

Now, community boards, including CB3, get the applications first. The local boards are tasked with providing recommendations for new licenses, and according to published reports, they are being overwhelmed by the process.

In November, the CB3 task force is meeting on two evenings — Nov. 9 (at the Houston Street Center, Double Classrooms 2 & 3 — 273 Bowery) and Nov. 13 (The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, 107 Suffolk St.).

With 20-plus applicants on the docket this month, we asked CB3 District Manager Susan Stetzer questions about the process and the community and the Board's role in the applications.

"This process is labor intensive, and we are not receiving much guidance from the state," Stetzer said. "We've requested a 30-day extension for each application, as we won't have time to complete each one within the State's required 30-day turnaround period. No one has sat down with us to ask us what we need."

The following responses were condensed for length and clarity.

Why are so many cannabis applications now going before the Community Board? 

OCM has a three-month window for applications right now, and it's a lottery system, so maybe there is a rush and some multiple applications. Also, there is a minimum 1,000-feet-apart rule, so once one location is pulled, no one else nearby can be accepted. Since this is a lottery system, it's not drawn in order of application.

Is this a similar role to liquor licenses? 

No, we wish it were! The State Liquor Authority application process has been honed, streamlined, and refined over the years. For example, the applications have landlord, contact names, and phone numbers listed, and these do not. So we don't have a direct contact. And we don't have much in the way of guidance. 

And why are there so many cannabis applicants?

We have an easier time of it. Community Board 2 [which covers Soho, Noho, Greenwich Village, and the West Village] has 70 applicants, and another Community Board has 90 applicants. 

Will this be a monthly process? 

This will last for three months as there is a three-month window for applicants to apply to OCM.

Is CB3 going to form a new committee for this? 

This newly formed committee has previously heard Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries licensing; these new applications are for adult recreational usage. 

What part does the Community Board play in this new field? 

 We don’t know! 

What are the presentations that the applicants put together? 

The questionnaires are posted on the CB3 website [link here] so people can read them and attend the meetings to ask questions. 

Why are there two separate groups/dates/locations? 

They are grouped by location — east and west sides of the CB3 area. We did this to make it easier for the residents who live in those areas.

Does order of appearance have any significance? 

No. Mostly, they were grouped by address, but the order of appearance can change. We try to accommodate people's schedules, which can change at the last minute and lead to order shuffling. 

What part does restorative justice play in these applications? 

None. This is separate from CAURD justice-impacted licensing. 

Why are there multiple license requests from the same listed address? 

Not sure. The rules don't specify anything about location or lease before coming to the community board.

Are these in-person meetings only? No zoom access? 

 The locations available don't have hybrid services. No resources or equipment for Zoom. One has a cut-off time of 9:30 p.m. and the other 10:30 p.m., so we hope we can get to all the applicants listed.  

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You can join CB3's mailing list via this link.

A bust at LA Convenience on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Last night around 9, a multi-agency raid took place at LA Convenience at 105 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

Officers confiscated a large quantity of products (labels included vapes/cartridges and edibles/candies) ... and left the smoke shop with more than 12 bags of items...

The shop, formerly LES Convenience, has been busted several times this year... and eventually reopens.

As previously reported, as of August, a new city law is now in effect that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops. 

Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

A cannabis dispensary is the first tenant for this newly created retail space on 7th Street

Signage is up now for Buy Me Flowers, a cannabis dispensary, at 102 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. 

This is the very first retail tenant for the space, which for decades served as a residence. 

This appears to be another unlicensed cannabis operation. (You can find a list of regulated, licensed dispensaries here.)

In August, the city put in place a new law to curb illegal stores: 

Introduction 1001-B, now known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

Steve Croman is the building's landlord. (A smoke shop is also on the way in one of his retail spaces on Avenue B.)

As previously noted, Anthony Pisano lived in this converted storefront full of antiques and whimsical curiosities for nearly 40 years. He died in 2018 at age 86. Check out some interior pics from his home here.  

Smoke shop comings and goings

For those of you keeping track at home... NoHo Green Oasis is now open at 356 Bowery between Fourth Street and Great Jones.

The shop sells the usual — drinks, exotic snacks and smoking accessories. (No cannabis-related products.)

As far as we can recall, this storefront — directly next to the incoming 21-story office building — has been vacant for years. (Hecho en Dumbo was next door at No. 354.)

Meanwhile!

St. Marks Convenience & Smoke Shop at 103 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue has closed... for rent signs now hang on the storefront (thanks to Steven for the photo).

Among other things, the unlicensed shop sold cannabis-related items and had drawn the scrutiny of law enforcement officials...  who busted the business multiple times.

There are also new smoke shops on 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue and Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.

Noted

Photo by Steven

Well then! Signage went up yesterday at 32 St. Mark's Place for a new business called Qik N E Z Convenience here between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. 

Given the Weed Greens Color Scheme palette — North Texas Green (#059033), Dollar Bill (#93CB56), Palm Leaf (#7BAA47) and Mughal Green (#355A20) — we're going with a cannabis-related business for the storefront. 

Or maybe one that just sells smoking accessories and exotic snacks. 

Smoke shops pop up faster than they get busted or go out of business. (There are two other new smoke shops that we haven't even mentioned yet.) 

A new city law recently went into effect that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops. Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

This small storefront was most recently Suki Japanese Kitchen, which closed earlier in the summer.

Unlicensed East Village cannabis shops raided again

A story that made headlines this past week: As of Monday, a new city law is now in effect that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops. 

Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

The legislation followed a Council oversight hearing on the growing problem of unlicensed smoke shops across the city. 

Meanwhile, there were more multi-agency raids on Friday... local targets included, again, LA Convenience (formerly LES Convenience) at 105 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street... (photos by Stacie Joy)...

... and the Saint Marks Convenience & Smoke Shop, 103 St. Mark's Place between Avenue A and First Avenue... (photos by Steven)...

Both shops have been targeted in the past, and they both are always able to reopen... not sure how any business can continue to sustain the raids, confiscations, legal fees, etc. 

The city can now fine landlords for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops

Photo from June by Stacie Joy 

As of yesterday, a new city law is now in effect that holds commercial landlords responsible for renting storefronts to unlicensed cannabis shops. 

Introduction 1001-B, known as Local Law 107 of 2023, prohibits owners of commercial spaces from knowingly leasing to unlicensed sellers of marijuana or tobacco products, imposing fines of up to $10,000 on landlords for violations. 

The legislation followed a Council oversight hearing on the growing problem of unlicensed smoke shops operating across the city. The bill was passed on June 22. 

In a statement by Queens Councilmember Lynn Schulman, chair of the Council's Health Committee and prime sponsor of the unlawful cannabis shop enforcement legislation: 

"My recently enacted legislation ... will help shut down the illegal cannabis and smoke shops that have proliferated our city and created public health and safety hazards in our communities. This legislation is a game changer and adds another tool to the enforcement toolbox against these harmful businesses." 

Per a media advisory about the newly enacted law: 

... agencies that conduct inspections for unlicensed marijuana or tobacco sales and find such activity may provide written notice to the property owner requiring they ensure such unlicensed activity is ceased, serving as the basis of the violation. Any subsequent inspection that finds continued violation would make the landlord subject to a $5,000 civil penalty at first, and a $10,000 penalty for each subsequent violation. The commencement of an eviction proceeding shall be considered an affirmative defense for a landlord.

It is estimated that New York City is home to approximately 8,000 illegal, unlicensed smoke shops [ed note: half of which seem to be in the East Village]. Consequently, sales by illicit stores undermine the licensed recreational marijuana market, depriving New Yorkers of the tax revenues and community reinvestment funds generated from the 13% tax on legal sales. The products sold in unlawful stores are unregulated and therefore can pose health risks to consumers.

As we've seen in previous months, shops that have been raided-fined have eventually resumed operations, new shops have risen from the ashes of shuttered venues, or new businesses with increasingly cutesy names arrive down the block.

Meanwhile, to avoid detection, several readers have noted at least two shops have removed their signage and only open in the evenings when a coordinated raid is less likely. 

Something to frown about at Smileys

Photos by Steven

Smileys at 199 Avenue A is the latest unlicensed cannabis shop to get busted in a multi-agency sweep last week.

An array of legal notices are affixed to the storefront (and semi-obscured by the rolldown gate) here between 12th Street and 13th Street...

Smileys, which opened at the start of the year and describes itself as a "wellness shop," remained closed over the weekend. 

As we've seen, shops that have been raided-fined have eventually resumed operations, new shops have risen from the ashes of shuttered venues, or new businesses with increasingly cutesy names arrive down the block.

Meanwhile, to avoid detection, several readers have noted at least two shops have removed their signage and only open in the evenings when a coordinated raid is less likely.

With a new law in place late in the spring, New York State — via the Office of Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance — ramped up efforts to shut down businesses selling cannabis without a license. 

However, as NY1 pointed out on July 14, of "the 22 stores that were issued violations in the city, only six have closed down. Most reopened for business and continue to openly sell cannabis in violation of the law." Gothamist has more on the enforcement success here.

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The City recently published a piece titled, Your Guide to Legal Cannabis in New York City.

Say high to the latest retail tenant at this 2nd Avenue storefront

Signage is up now for the new tenant at 97 Second Ave. — Hi Society, a cannabis shop. (And why not High Society? There is already an online weed delivery service by that name in NYC.) 

The arrival comes as New York State started taking new measures to crack down on unlicensed cannabis shops last month ... with the Office of Cannabis Management able to fine the establishments $10,000 per day; $20,000 if sales persist. 

There are at least four regulated, licensed dispensaries in the immediate area. 

The address here between Fifth Street and Sixth Street was the laundromat Launderette for years until 2014. Recent ventures include several hot pot restaurants... and a pick-up spot for the grocery delivery company Getir.

Top photo by Steven; second shot by Derek Berg

More unlicensed cannabis shops busted in the East Village

Top photo by Derek Berg 

On the past two Wednesdays, a contingent of law enforcement officers has busted several unlicensed cannabis shops in the East Village. 

You may have noticed the "Illegal Cannabis Seized" posters affixed to the storefronts...

Last week's visits included a shop on Second Avenue near Fourth Street (photos by Stacie Joy) ... and First Avenue near Ninth Street. These businesses remain closed, though others that were fined in the past have reopened.

Yesterday's action targeted the dispensary on the SE corner of First Avenue and 11th Street (photos below by William Klayer) ...

More crackdown tactics are on the way. 

As Gothamist reported on June 13: "More than half of the City Council's members are sponsoring a bill that will lead to serious penalties for people who knowingly lease space to unlicensed sellers of marijuana, tobacco and other controlled substances." 

And fines for selling marijuana without a license could eventually hike up to $20,000 daily. 

From a June 8 press release from NY State:

"New York is proud to have undertaken the most equitable legal cannabis roll-out in the nation and the State will not stand idle as unlicensed operators break the law and sell untested products to underage New Yorkers," Gov. Hochul said. "These enforcement actions are critical steps to protect and help those individuals who were promised a shot to start a legal business and be successful. Additionally, these unlicensed operators undermine the State's efforts to generate substantial funds for a social equity fund that will go into the communities that have been hardest hit by over-prosecution of the cannabis laws in the past." 

This afternoon, Gov. Hochul announced that inspectors from the Cannabis Management and Department of Taxation and Finance issued violations to 21 stores in Manhattan and seized nearly $11 million worth of "illicit products" this month.

Hochul said that "some of the unregulated product was found to be marketed to kids and contain toxic chemicals, E. coli, and other contaminants," the Post reported. 

"I want to be aggressive; I want to get this done," she said. "I want to send a message loud and clear across this state that if you're operating illegally, you will be caught, and you will be stopped. We're going to work together and enforce the law quickly and aggressively and shut these bad actors down."

Previously on EV Grieve:

City's fight against unlicensed cannabis shops now targets landlords; 4 East Village shops busted

Is this the skinniest smoke shop in NYC?

This sliver of a smoke shop opened last week on Third Avenue between 12th Street and 13th Street... with about a foot-wide doorway wedged between Cutlets and Makari Japanese Antiques and Fine Art ...

As far as we can recall, this was a doorway into the building at 97 Third Ave. (There's another larger entrance a few steps to the south.) Anyway, here's an evening view (thanks, Jodi!) ...

This is the latest unlicensed shop to arrive in the neighborhood... Village Happy House Convenience opened last week at 127 Second Ave. between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place (thanks, Steven!) ...

... and in a smoke-shop switcheroo, the signage for the coming-soon Deli Convenience now reads Dispensary (with marijuana leaves) on the west side of First Avenue between 13th Street and 14th Street where Tony's Famous Pizza used to be (and RIP Vinny Vincenz) (Thanks, Pinch!) ...

On 10th Street, infused bake shop Sweetooth closed for now after raid

Photos yesterday by Steven

All three outposts of Sweetooth, which takes claim as the city's first "infused" bake shops, are currently closed after a multi-agency raid last week.

Several readers noted that the brand's first location, on 10th Street just west of First Avenue, was busted this past Thursday.

While the physical storefronts are temporarily shuttered, special orders and deliveries are still available...

 

View this post on Instagram.

A post shared by SWEETOOTH (@sweetoothonly)

The action comes roughly 12 days after the Post reported that the shop was "unlicensed and illegal," according to the state Office of Cannabis Management. The paper also quoted a Sweetooth co-owner saying, "“Right now, we’re taking advantage of the loose laws in the liberal New York Democratic city." 

In a follow-up article on Saturday, the Post reported that Thursday's raid yielded 1,052 edibles, 303 THC vapes, and 97 pre-rolls (good for a $13,500 fine) from the West Fourth Street Sweetooth. 

There wasn't any mention of what may have been seized from the EV storefront, which opened last fall. There's a closed notice on the space via the Department of Health...

In February, Mayor Adams and Manhattan DA Bragg announced that they have joined forces to combat the proliferation of illegal, unlicensed cannabis dispensaries in the city.

Following that, the NYPD filed complaints against four unlicensed establishments selling cannabis in the jurisdiction of the 9th Precinct, which covers the East Village. 

Gotham — NYC's 'first cannabis concept store' — debuts today on Third Street

Gotham, the latest legal cannabis shop in the neighborhood, opens this morning at 3 E. Third St., just east of the Bowery. 

Gotham founder Joanne Wilson called the shop's concept "the next wave of cannabis retail." 

"Gotham is a reflection of New York's rich history and influence. We're proud to be one of the pioneers reimagining what the legalized cannabis market can become in the state," she said in a press announcement about the opening. 

And the two-level space features more than cannabis, focusing on art and music. 

Per the opening announcement: 

Gotham will feature a curated selection of retail, exhibits, and happenings that reflect New York's cultural zeitgeist. The 2,800-square-foot open-concept venue features an exhibition space that will display seasonally rotating shows featuring New York artists. For its inaugural show, Gotham will partner with Bright Moments to present an NFT gallery. The store will also feature a permanent installation by NYC-based multimedia artist Molly Lowe.

Gotham is open for in-person shopping and pick-up daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with delivery coming soon.

Back in January, this location reportedly drew opposition from management at Project Renewal, which operates a men's shelter and an in-patient substance abuse treatment on the block.

Updated ... adding this... 

Gotham partnered with STRIVE on this shop. 

From the release:

Gotham is committed to creating systemic change through the power of jobs, education and opportunity for those that were formerly incarcerated for cannabis. STRIVE is a nonprofit which provides a pathway to life-changing careers for those who face societal barriers to economic empowerment and upward mobility — including those impacted by the justice system. As a beneficiary, the nonprofit will receive a portion of the proceeds to fund its programs.

Convenience Tobacco rises from the ashes of Runtz Tobacco; NYPD takes note

This past week, Convenience Tobacco debuted with a grand opening at 14 First Ave. between First Street and Second Street. 

You may recall that this space was previously Runtz Tobacco, one of four unlicensed East Village cannabis shops that the city attempted to shut down this year. Runtz was permanently shuttered as of early March. 

Meanwhile, the new establishment is using the Runtz Tobacco sidewalk signage. As the Daily News reports, the NYPD has taken note. (Or took note after a reporter from the Daily News called.)

Per the News: 

According to the NYPD, the shop is going against the court order that shut Runtz down.

"They are currently in violation of a court order to remain closed to the public," an NYPD spokesperson said of the shop in a statement. "It is anticipated that the premises will be closed again soon. If not, we will seek to get a full closure order from the court."

NYPD intends to resolve the case with a settlement, the NYPD spokesperson added. 

And... 

Attempts by the Daily News to reach Runtz's owner, lawyer and landlord were unsuccessful and an employee at the shop said she wasn’t able to answer questions about the store.

It had been a challenging debut for Runtz. Armed robbers reportedly took them for $5,400 shortly after opening this past August.