Norwalk’s second marijuana dispensary officially opens, celebrates 4/20
Shangri-La and Fine Fettle are both located on Main Avenue in Norwalk.
Norwalk’s second cannabis retailer in just under a month held its grand opening on Saturday in celebration of 4/20 day.
“We hauled to get here to open up on 4/20 day. Definitely don't want to miss out on the holiday,” said Clayton Bigger, manager of Shangri-La Norwalk.
Shangri-La is open for business after its final approval on Monday. Staff said the key to their customer service is attention to detail.
“It’s not all about just THC percentage. What sort of terpenes does it have? How was this specific product grown? What sort of pesticides went in? We gather lab results,” said Nevil Patel, the CEO of Shangri-La.
They’re also building their own cultivation facility in Stratford.
“We have our own brand, so we control the supply. We understand the customer's needs,” Patel said.
Shangri-La is Norwalk’s second cannabis dispensary. Fine Fettle opened last month and is also located on Main Avenue. As management plans further expansion in the city – with another shop slated to open before the end of this year – they said they have been welcomed by the neighbors.
“The community has been great so far. We love it. They’ve been very, very patient, specifically all our neighbors,” Patel said.
There was some opposition to dispensaries opening in Norwalk. In an October city forum, residents expressed concerns over underage use and illegal sellers.
“This is monitored. It’s watched by the DCP [Department of Consumer Protection], it’s watched by the state. This isn’t a backdoor operation. This is a business like any other business you’d go to,” Bigger said. “Some people just aren’t cool with it. It is what it is.”
The state requires a social equity component in all marijuana dispensaries, something staff said they don’t take lightly.
“To learn how we can best support the community and people that have been most impacted by the war on drugs,” said Jocelyn Serda, director of Community Impact. “It’s really cool that we can buy cannabis legally in the state, and to remember those who paved the way for us to get here today.”
RELATED: Fine Fettle, Norwalk's first cannabis dispensary, opens Thursday
