Munchies Dispensary, the first licensed legal cannabis retailer on the Rockaway Peninsula, marks its first year of operations this November.
-- Munchies Dispensary today announced its one-year anniversary as the first legal cannabis retailer serving the Rockaways, underscoring a milestone for a regulated industry that has taken root in a historically underserved coastal community. The store opened with a soft launch on Nov. 4, 2024, and has spent its first year building compliant retail operations while advancing neighborhood partnerships across Belle Harbor, Arverne, Far Rockaway and Rockaway Beach.
Licensed under OCM-CAURD-24-000203, the retailer said the anniversary reflects steady operational growth and a community-first approach envisioned by New York’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program. Munchies Dispensary reports creating more than a dozen local jobs during its first year and prioritizing vendor relationships within the peninsula’s business corridor. The company cited collaborations with small businesses and civic partners as a foundation for its model, including the NYPD’s 100th Precinct, Elegante Pizza and Tracy at Rockaway Beach Bakery.
“The purpose of the CAURD license was to help right the wrongs of the war on drugs in this very community, and we intend to walk hand in hand with our neighbors every step of the way,” said David Hooper. “From day one, our focus has been legal compliance, safe access and tangible community benefit.”
Since sales began during its soft opening last Nov. 4, the dispensary has organized and supported a series of neighborhood initiatives. Munchies Dispensary launched a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway on Nov. 23, 2024, distributing 200 turkeys to local families, and plans to repeat the program this Thanksgiving. The company has provided school lunch support to nearby schools and teamed up with the 100th Precinct and local businesses on a back-to-school bookbag giveaway. The store’s leadership said these activities are part of a broader effort to normalize legal cannabis retail, reduce stigma and demonstrate direct, measurable civic engagement.
“As the first dispensary in the Rockaways, we hoped to show both the community and other businesses that one hand washes the other and both wash the face,” said partner Jean Belfort. “Community isn’t just a word—it’s an action. You get out what you put in, and for us it has always been bigger than cannabis.”
Munchies Dispensary said it has focused on educating adult consumers about the state’s regulated framework, emphasizing tested products and responsible use. Staff training, age-verification protocols and security procedures have been central to operations, the company said, adding that it has maintained ongoing dialogue with local stakeholders to align store policies with neighborhood priorities.
The retailer’s first-year footprint spans a customer base drawn from across the peninsula—from a Bell Harbor dispensary searcher seeking a compliant option close to home, to adult customers who identify with an Arverne dispensary or Far Rockaway dispensary, to visitors and residents who look for a Rockaway Beach dispensary while on the boardwalk. Munchies Dispensary said this mix reflects the peninsula’s varied demographics and the steady normalization of legal cannabis in New York City.
Internally, the company reports implementing inventory controls and product-safety checks aligned with state requirements, as well as employee training focused on compliance and customer education. Management said it will continue to measure community impact through recurring programs—such as annual holiday food distributions, school support, and co-sponsored neighborhood events—alongside operational benchmarks like workforce retention and vendor sourcing within the Rockaways.
“Being first comes with responsibility,” Hooper said. “Our team set out to remove outdated stigma by showing, not telling, how a licensed dispensary can contribute to local safety, economic activity and trust. We’re grateful to the residents, small businesses and officers at the 100th Precinct who have stood shoulder to shoulder with us.”
Looking ahead, Munchies Dispensary plans to deepen partnerships with local nonprofits and small businesses, expand its community calendar, and maintain compliance practices that meet or exceed New York standards. The company said it will continue soliciting feedback from customers and nearby residents as it enters its second year, with the goal of sustaining a neighborhood-anchored, legally compliant model for a dispensary in the Rockaways.
The store remains open seven days a week—Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.—and serves adult customers 21 and over. Company representatives said they will announce additional community programming tied to the anniversary in the weeks ahead.
About Munchies Dispensary
Munchies Dispensary is the first legal cannabis retailer on the Rockaway Peninsula, licensed under New York’s Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary program (OCM-CAURD-24-000203). The store operates with a compliance-first approach, focusing on safe access, age verification and state-tested products for adult customers.
Founded to bridge legal cannabis and community, Munchies Dispensary partners with local organizations, small businesses and civic groups across Belle Harbor, Arverne, Far Rockaway and Rockaway Beach. The company’s community work has included holiday food distributions, school support and back-to-school drives in collaboration with the 100th Precinct and neighborhood vendors.
Contact Info:
Name: David hooper
Email: Send Email
Organization: munchies dispensary ny
Address: 8701 rockaway beach blvd far rockaway, ny
Website: https://munchiesdispensaryny.com/
Release ID: 89175721
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