BUFFALO, N.Y. — A national cannabis business will open its first dispensary in Western New York on Friday.
Star Buds — which currently has locations in Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, and Oklahoma — will open Friday at 396 Kenmore Ave., west of Englewood Avenue.
The owners are well known in the restaurant business in Western New York. Nick Pitillo and Ed Gurbacki own Osteria 166 in downtown Buffalo and Villaggio in Ellicottville.
“Our team is excited to provide our customers a quality experience each time they visit Star Buds,” Pitillo said in a statement Wednesday, announcing the opening date.
“We’re bringing a hospitality mindset and philosophy to this new retail business. It’s a people-first approach so that the quality of the service we provide and our engagement with each customer matches the quality of the products we will be selling.”
Star Buds boasts "a top-notch selection of strains, including our signature Cannabis Cup-winning sativa," on its website. The company also has a "Higher Rewards Loyalty Program," where customers accumulate points on purchases that go toward discounts and specials.
Final approval of the 1,600-square-foot dispensary came earlier this week from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management. Star Buds will employ roughly 25 people.
Star Buds will be open seven days a week. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
There will also be a drive-up window where "established customers" can receive orders placed online.