EAST DUBUQUE, Illinois (KCRG) – Two new dispensaries are opening in East Dubuque in the next two months.
The Dispensary, located at 1709 Highway 35 North, has enjoyed being the community’s only cannabis shop for the last three years. East Dubuque City Manager Bob Seitz said the business generates around $45,000 monthly for the city in cannabis and sales taxes.
Seitz said he expects the city’s revenue to increase with the addition of two more cannabis shops. NuEra Cannabis plans to open a store at 20170 U.S. Highway 20 West by the end of the month, while Bridge City Collective will launch a dispensary at 122 Sinsinawa Avenue by the end of January.
“We haven’t counted this in our budget,” said Seitz. “We can direct that money to buy down debt and improve infrastructure, going to water mains and things that have been neglected by the city for many years.”
According to Seitz, Bridge City Collective’s dispensary will be the first new building in the city’s downtown core in about 15 years, and the first of several multi-million dollar projects in the area, including remodeling the city’s 140-year-old police and fire station.
“It’s going to be a complete revival of our business district from a tax revenue standpoint, but mainly updating the city, making it look great and improving pride among people in the city,” said Seitz.
Bridge City Collective President David Alport said the cannabis store chain, based out of Portland, Oregon, is invested in adding to the “growth and vibrancy of the downtown area.”
“The thing that sets us apart is we’re really trying to be a part of the community there in downtown East Dubuque, so it’s more than just opening up a store somewhere along a corridor,” said Alport, noting its building also features a public outdoor space.
NuEra Cannabis Marketing Director Jonah Rapinio said the Illinois-based cannabis store chain differentiates itself from the market because of its medicinal roots.
“We really understand that people, even when they’re purchasing as adults and use for recreation, a lot of people are using it medicinally to help them with that back pain or as an alternative to sleep medication,” said Rapinio. “We really try to be very sensitive and empathetic for what people are looking for because we know that not everybody is looking for that recreational experience.”
TV9 asked both Alport and Rapinio about joining a competitive market in the tri-state area.
“It can only make us stronger and it also really only helps the consumer, where there’s not a monopoly happening. Where there’s options and they’ve got choices,” noted Rapinio. “Then we’ve got to make sure we’re always doing the best that we can to attract and bring those people in and give them the best possible experience.”
“We welcome our neighbors in the community in the cannabis space and for us, we’ll just keep our head down and do what we do best, and that’s offer something that’s unique as far as a welcoming space,” said Alport.
After several years of working with NuEra Cannabis and Bridge City Collective, Seitz said it’s exciting to see the finish line near.
“It’s always a challenge getting people across the line and this has been several years for each of these businesses,” explained Seitz. “It’s a big sense of accomplishment. It’s great for the future of the city, but it’s also the investment that comes into the city and I think opens up the city to more investment in the future.”
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