Southwick resident Michele Hildebrandt, the general manager of Haven Southwick, helps co-owner Mark S. Dupuis hang reclaimed barn wood in the space that will serve as the showroom for the dispensary’s recreational and medicinal cannabis products.
Reminder Publishing photo by Cliff Clark
SOUTHWICK — When one of the owners of Haven Southwick said in July that the town’s second recreational marijuana dispensary would be different from other dispensaries, he wasn’t kidding.
“We’re looking for local artists for consignments in our art gallery,” said Mark S. Dupuis, who co-owns the business with Brian Kuchachick.
He said 500 square feet of the dispensary, located at 681 College Highway in the former Family Dollar building, has been set aside to display the works of local artists.
“With our grand opening coming soon, we’re looking for 20 to 25 local artists to fill the space adjacent to our brand-new showroom,” he said.
For artists who want to take advantage of the space, Dupuis said there will be a 20% consignment fee, and all of it will be donated to the arts departments of the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District.
Any interested artist can email Dupuis at havensouthwickart@gmail.com.
Certified as a social equity program dispensary, Dupuis has designed a portion of the business as a space to hold networking events for others who want to open a dispensary or learn more about how to qualify as social equity program applicants.
“We need to stick together out here,” Dupuis said.
Each event will focus on specific groups based on their individual needs, including signing up for future enrollment in the Social Equity Program, exploring job opportunities, getting help with licensing and grant applications, planning facility design, hiring contractors and networking for operational businesses.
The first event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. at the dispensary and will be open to all active SEP members. Attendees must pre-register by emailing their name, phone number, SEP license number and stage of their SEP journey to HavenSouthwicksep@gmail.com. Space is limited.
“For far too long, the people that were disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition have been blocked out of the industry they built. This is about to end. With the support of the Cannabis Control Commission’s Social Equity Trust Program, people like me, who have benefited from the program, will finally have the support needed to break down these barriers,” Dupuis said.
He wants those who grow cannabis in their backyard or basement, as well as legacy operators, to consider Haven, Dupuis and an informational resource.
“These are my people. Haven Southwick is here to support you transitioning into the industry. Come to the events or stop by our store when we open. I will find you an opportunity. Haven Southwick is more than a place to buy cannabis,” Dupuis said.
He gave special thanks to the Cannabis Control Commission, the town of Southwick, former Select Board member Diane Gale, who created and implemented a fair and equitable cannabis program, and former board member Jason Perron, who followed the guidelines and scored the applicants fairly.
“They voted to allow Haven to become a reality based off facts and not relationships. This is the kind of true leadership we need more of in the world,” he said.
As for the dispensary, the interior’s construction continues.
On Sept. 4, Dupuis, who has no connection to Mark A. Dupuis, the former owner of the now-closed Heka dispensary in Westfield, was hanging reclaimed barn wood from Vermont on the dispensary’s walls.
“We’re opening soon. I just can’t give a specific date just yet,” he said.
The business will operate under the California-based Haven, which has over a dozen retail operations in Southern California and has recently expanded into Maine and Maryland.
Dupuis and Kuchachick will rely on the knowledge the parent company has developed over the last decade while operating medical and retail cannabis dispensaries.
The parent company will also handle the administrative side of the business, including tax payments, accounting and legal services.
