WORCESTER – The crowded retail marijuana business market in Worcester has another competitor.
Clear Sky Cannabis opened Saturday at 134 Southwest Cutoff, one of 10 adult-use marijuana businesses currently open in the city, according to the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.
At Clear Sky Cannabis, business is brisk.
“The Grafton Street area is hitting us real hard,” said Anthony Parrinello, chief executive officer at Clear Sky Cannabis.
Parrinello projects sales in Worcester to reach $6 million to $8 million annually.
Tuesday, Worcester resident Miguel Africa, 29, bought a package of “pre-rolls” at the Worcester store. He described them as marijuana joints that come rolled for the customer.
“I know it’s a new place, and I wanted to check it out,” said Africa.
Worcester is Clear Sky’s second Massachusetts location. The company opened its first store in March in North Adams, and a third location is expected to open soon in Belchertown.
Worcester makes sense
Parrinello listed the reasons why a Worcester location makes sense – its central location in the state, the city’s current economic boom and an area with living-wage jobs so residents have the disposable income to buy Clear Sky products.
What separates Clear Sky from the competition in Worcester, Parrinello said, is the store’s vibe, which he described as “nice and comfortable,” and a well-trained staff.
Parrinello also touted the store’s commitment to sell products at lower prices because the wholesale cost of its products has dropped. Clear Sky also supports local cultivators, as some of its products come from JustinCredible Cultivation, a Black-owned business in Cummington. 253 Farmacy in Turners Falls is another supplier.
The Worcester location is 3,700 square feet with 28 parking spaces, has a full-time staff of 13, and Parrinello said the building is leased for five years.
Approximately 40 private investors back Evergreen Strategies LLC, the parent company for Clear Sky Cannabis. Most of the investors are Massachusetts residents, Parrinello said.
He noted the investors pumped approximately $1 million into the Worcester location.
Investment in Worcester
As part of getting a license to operate in Worcester, Clear Sky’s location will give 3% of its annual gross sales to the city. It’s a condition in the host community agreement the company signed with the city. The agreement is required by the state Cannabis Control Commission.
Also, Parrinello said the business will provide $25,000 annually to the South Worcester Neighborhood Improvement Corp. The nonprofit organization supports the area with a range of social services.
Medical marijuana in the mix?
Medical marijuana could be part of Clear Sky’s future plans, but it needs a cultivation facility that supplies cannabis directly to its stores. That is a requirement of the state Cannabis Control Commission, Parrinello said.
West Boylston is a possible landing spot for a cultivation facility, and Parrinello said the company has cleared the regulatory process in that town. A variance is still needed from state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @henrytelegram.
