The storefront signage is up for what looks like the neighborhood’s first legal cannabis dispensary: Alto on Chambers says it is opening this summer at 110 Chambers, just west of Church in the former Patriot space — though a peek inside looks like it will take some time yet.

UPDATE: the state Office of Cannabis Management sent me this handy lookup site, and indeed they have their license. I am checking with the state Office of Cannabis Management currently on the status of the applicant’s license. They were denied by CB1 in December on the grounds that they were within 500 feet of a school, and in this case, Reade Street Prep at 77 Reade. UPDATE 2: the owner asked that I listen to the CB1 meeting, since I only looked at the resolutions online, which said they were denied; in fact, the board approved the license, after accepting the fact — though it was debated for ages — that Reade Street Prep at 77 Reade is just inches over 500 feet from 110 Chambers.

(And I won’t swear to any of this since the rules are ridiculously complicated and contradictory, but it has been my understanding all this time that the school has to be within 500 feet IN A STRAIGHT LINE, and not as the crow flies, or by walking around the corner. That, at least, is the rule with the State Liquor Authority. Happy to be corrected in comments.)

The applicant is Savo Group Inc., owned by Andre Savocchi and his parents who secured a CAURD license — the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License, which went to certain classes of folks — by being majority woman-owned. They applied initially in 2022, and then the court’s injunction stalled the process. They said their plan is to operate seven days, 10a to 8p, (the limit is 70 hours per week) and that they will come back for an on-site consumption license when the state starts issuing them. They noted that because they have apartments above, they cannot allow smoking — only drinking and eating.

The Patriot closed in that space in June 2022, after 19 years. And I think they made a mistake in changing the name. Would have been great to preserve that old neon…