Nearly four years after investors first expressed interest in opening a retail cannabis shop on Route 58, CannaBarn has officially opened in Abington.
“It’s a beautiful day,” said CannaBarn President Greg MacDonald. “It’s been a long road and we’re so excited to be open.”
The rustic-themed shop is located at 678 Adams Street, which was the former site of Wayne’s Sleep Shop as well as the Jenkins and Simmons Trucking Terminal office. The structure has undergone a significant interior and exterior renovation to make the 120-year-old, gambrel-roof building look more like a country barn than a modern cannabis shop.
That was intentional, said MacDonald.
“We’re going for that farm-to-table feel,” he said. “Not that cold Apple store feel. It’s more homey.”
The interior retail space is trimmed out with dark walnut, with vertical wooden planks along the walls, and corrugated metal used as an accent in the counters.
As part of its local permits, CannaBarn also installed the property’s first stormwater drainage system, paved over the existing gravel parking lot, painted the warehouse building located at the rear of the property, and expanded the site’s landscaping to include new grass areas and flower beds.
CannaBarn is now the town’s third retail cannabis shop, joining Bud’s and Natural Agricultural Products, both of which are located on Route 18. The Route 58 location might actually help give it a competitive edge, according to MacDonald.
“It’s definitely easier to get in and out on Route 58,” he said.
General Manager Carlos Vazquez said he hopes the store also distinguishes itself from competitors through customer service, consumer education, and informative product descriptions.
“We have a little consultation area for those who may need a bit more help,” said Vazquez, who is a 7-year veteran of the young industry, having started his training on the medical marijuana side.
Vazquez said the store is still receiving its initial product deliveries but will offer many of the standard popular products, including high-end flower, chocolates and other edibles, drink mixes, and tinctures. They’re buying products from a number of local manufacturers, such as Impressed Cannabis in Hanson, Theory Wellness in Bridgewater, and Bailey’s Buds in Dracut, as well as some new California and Colorado-based providers.
Online ordering is available, and the store has plans for an app in the coming months.
Hours are currently 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
CannaBarn first expressed interest in coming to Abington back in 2020. It worked to raise the town’s cap on retail marijuana shop licenses from 2 to 5, which Town Meeting approved in November 2020. The Abington Planning Board approved the site plan for the shop in the spring of 2022, with much of the construction taking place over the next few months. Since then it’s been a slow slog to navigate the state’s troubled Cannabis Control Commission. The last of the state approvals were received this past June and the town’s building department gave a final thumbs up on Tuesday.
“We’re open,” said MacDonald.
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