BOSTON – Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH), a multi-state, vertically-integrated cannabis operator, announced today that its subsidiary, Ascend Mass, received its provisional license from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission for what will be the largest dispensary on the East Coast.
Situated near Faneuil Hall and the newly renovated TD Garden in the heart of downtown Boston, the groundbreaking adult-use concept store will serve as an iconic destination to the more than 15 million tourists who pass through the city each year. In fact, Faneuil Hall is the 8th most visited tourist attraction in the U.S. and Ascend Mass will be the first dispensary to operate within Boston city limits.
The landmark building commands 16,000 square feet of retail at 272 Friend Street.
During the planning phase, the project received broad support from the community and state leaders. Now, as the adult-use store nears opening its doors, it’s set to become an iconic destination that’s at the heart of Massachusetts’ vibrant cannabis community.
“This is a very significant and exciting step for Ascend,” said Andrea Cabral, CEO of Ascend Mass. “MA licensure standards are quite high and we are incredibly proud of our team’s work to achieve this milestone.”
The Andrus Group, an award-winning design firm that has worked on other high-volume urban stores for companies such as Apple, Burberry and Tesla, managed construction on the project. Once opened, the Boston store will bring together innovation and education to create a unique and engaging in-store experience for adult consumers.
“Boston is a known technology hub, and Ascend’s newest flagship store complements the dynamic and energetic city where it resides,” said Abner Kurtin, Founder of Ascend Wellness Holdings. “We are thrilled to bring a state-of-the-art retail experience to the City of Boston that will raise the bar for cannabis dispensaries throughout the industry.”
The Boston store is slated to open late 2020. Ascend Wellness Holdings operates adult-use cannabis stores in Illinois and Michigan and looks forward to opening a world-class cannabis retail experience in Massachusetts.
About Ascend Wellness Holdings
Ascend Wellness Holdings (AWH) is a market leading, vertically-integrated operator with retail and production facilities in Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts and New Jersey; and strategic partnerships in Michigan. AWH is breaking down traditional walls in the cannabis marketplace to create a unique, in-store customer experience and providing exclusive brand partnerships. AWH owns and operates state of the art cultivation facilities, growing heirloom and exotic-blend strains and producing a curated selection of products with effect-based categorization. AWH operates under the brands; HCI Alternatives (soon to be Illinois Supply and Provisions), and Ohio Provisions. It also has a strategic partnership with Michigan Supply and Provisions. AWH produces and distributes Ozone branded products.
Ascend Mass owns and operates MassGrow a fully operational cultivation facility licensed for adult-use expecting its first harvest in February.
