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Ascend Rochelle Park is now selling to both adult-use and medical consumers

NEW YORK, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. ("AWH" or the "Company") (CSE: AAWH.U) (OTCQX: AAWH), a multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator focused on bettering lives through cannabis, today announced the commencement of recreational cannabis sales at their Ascend dispensary in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, located at 174 NJ-17 N.

This announcement follows AWH's recent approval by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission ("CRC") as one of seven Class 5 Retailer Licenses now permitted to sell recreational cannabis to consumers in New Jersey. To ensure adequate access for both medical and recreational visitors, consumers over 21 can now access a separate adult-use menu featuring a wide selection of products, including flower, edibles, vapes and more.

To provide a streamlined retail experience, Ascend Rochelle Park will require adult-use customers to reserve a 20-minute shopping appointment at letsascend.com ahead of visits. To preserve the same excellent service level our medical patients have become accustomed to, Ascend will now provide medical patients with a host of dedicated services, including the dispensary's medical express lane, direct access to the front entrance, private consultation rooms, and designated parking spots.

"Ascend Rochelle Park has served thousands of New Jersey medical patients since opening last year," said Chris Melillo, Chief Revenue Officer of AWH. "Existing patients can rest assured that they remain a priority and will continue to enjoy our top-tier services without disruption as we welcome adult-use consumers to the New Jersey Ascend community. We are excited to serve all New Jersey cannabis consumers and look forward to commencing recreational sales in our other locations across the Garden State. We look forward to continuing to partner with the town of Rochelle Park and bring great jobs to this dynamic area."

Please note, that the Rochelle Park store is open from 8 am to 8 pm daily, but the first hour and the last hour of the day are reserved for medical patients.

About AWH:

AWH is a vertically integrated operator with assets in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. AWH owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Ozone, Ozone Reserve, and Simply Herb branded products. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking information and statements, which may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding the plans, intentions, expectations, estimates, and beliefs of the Company. Words such as "expects", "continue", "will", "anticipates" and "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current projections and expectations about future events and financial trends, and on certain assumptions and analysis made by the Company in light of experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors management believes are appropriate.

Forward-looking information and statements involve and are subject to assumptions and known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual events, results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future events, results, performance, and achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information and statements herein. Such factors include, among others: the risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in the Company's other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking information and statements herein are reasonable, in light of the use of assumptions and the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in such information and statements, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance upon such forward-looking information and statements. Any forward-looking information and statements herein are made as of the date hereof, and except as required by applicable laws, the Company assumes no obligation and disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking information and statements herein or to update the reasons that actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in any forward-looking information and statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

SOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc.

New Jersey's 21st recreational marijuana dispensary opened to the public this week, with the official grand opening in Fort Lee set for Saturday.

Ascend Wellness is located less than 3 miles from the George Washington Bridge on West Street, which will be easy for New York commuters, said Mike Conway, the company's regional vice president of retail.

"It's really important to be so close to New York it would be silly not to take advantage of that," Conway said. "It's a great opportunity to grow our business and know we have a great system in place to have quick, easy and great service."

Ascend's other New Jersey locations are in Rochelle Park, which started recreational sales in April and Montclair, which started sales in August.

Ascend opened its doors in Fort Lee in August for medical marijuana use. Thursday's soft launch for recreational sales was to stress test the system that was used to serving under 100 customers a day to potentially thousands.

"We are so excited to have our last New Jersey location fully open to the public," Conway said on Friday. "Yesterday was really good. It exceeded my expectations."

To help be "good neighbors" Ascend Fort Lee will have an appointment-only model for the first 30 days to ensure it is handling parking and traffic appropriately, Conway said. In Rochelle Park, some initial concerns were about traffic lines building up on Route 17, but that never happened.

However, Conway said, the appointment model shouldn't deter any newcomers. He said if anyone has questions, just to add an item in their cart, make the appointment and they will get the one-on-one experience that Ascend is known for, and someone will answer any questions and find the best product for them.

Fort Lee's location is expecting a heavy commuter presence and has more retail floor space, 6,000 square feet, and more registers than its Rochelle Park and Montclair counterparts. Conway said the store is 20% bigger and has 29 registers versus Rochelle Park's 23.

Ascend Wellness Holdings has 29 stores across six states, and Rochelle Park was one of the company's largest earners last quarter, Conway said. Last quarter's sales project $57 million a year, which is expected to grow, according to Conway. Towns that are home to facilities collect 2% on recreational marijuana sales.

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"We're elated to have all three locations finally open and pumped to be open so close to New York and the George Washington Bridge," Conway said. "It will make it easier for people to get here and can be in and out on a commuter drive within five minutes."

Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich said any marijuana dispensary wouldn't be able to operate in Fort Lee unless it was "top notch."

Sokolich said he visited the Rochelle Park and Montclair locations several times while hearings were ongoing and said they emphasized the importance of security and efficiency to avoid traffic.

"We're excited to have that service in town," he said. "We welcome them and hope it works out. Everything we've asked them to do, they didn't question and did it and, in some instances, went above and beyond of what we asked of them."

For the first time in decades — since 1980 to be exact — Nyack has a supermarket downtown.

The Nyack Fresh Market officially opens Saturday, although the soft opening was Feb. 20.

And at 8:40 a.m., less than two hours after the grocery store opened at 7 a.m., eager customers were already through the doors, pushing carts, perusing and shopping for goods. Nyack resident Laura D'Angelo was one of them who was beyond excited to finally have a market here. "It's fabulous," she said. "It's a convenience that's been much needed."

Rochelle Spooner felt the same. She came from Piermont to be there for the market's first day and said she'd gladly travel back. Added Nyack resident Frank Simone, "We needed this. It's been a long time."

Owner Wilson Bermeo said that was the point. A New City resident who also owns three supermarkets in Spring Valley, specifically Spring Valley Supermarket, D & K Produce and Huerto del Eden, as well as Mount Ivy Diner in Pomona, said for too long, there's been a hole downtown, especially as there's so much foot traffic and many people don't have cars. And though it took three years — the space had previously been the long-shuttered Riverspace theater that closed in 2011 after a flood — Bermeo said his goal is to service the community and provide "a little bit of everything for everyone."

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That means wide aisles full of organic and regular produce, fresh seafood, meats, a deli counter, prepared foods, baked goods, household items, gluten-free products, frozen foods as well as wine and beer.

Being from Ecuador — he emigrated from there in 1995 — the store also carries a variety of Latin American products such as Tropicala's queso blanco, La Ricura pupusas de chicharron and crema de Honduras.

Customers will also find a nice selection of pies and cakes, including cheesecake from Junior's and coconut custard pie from Urban Meadow as well as individual cake slices in red velvet, carrot cake, funfetti and more from Ridgefield Park, New Jersey's Palermo Bakery.

"I know there are many cultures and ethnicities here and I want to make sure we have products that appeal to them," said Bermeo. "It's why we wanted to do this soft opening first; so if there's something they think we need or should add, I'm here to listen."

The Fresh Market shirts his staff wear prove his point, reading: "I am here to help you."

Some history behind the village's supermarket

So why did it take so long for Nyack to get a market downtown? Nyack village Trustee Marie Lorenzini, who was there early in the morning to welcome and thank Bermeo, said there were a lot of reasons.

Space was one of them. "As grocery stores expanded their goods, more space was needed," explained Mike Hays, president of the Historical Society of the Nyacks. Grand Union, which closed in 1980 and had previously been located where Mainstream Commons is now, eventually moved out to The Hub shopping center with more parking.

The store, said Hays, also held the lease on the building and stipulated that no other grocery store could move into the building, which kept competition out of the downtown market.

At one time, he said Nyack had an A&P next to the YMCA on South Broadway but that went out before the Grand Union closed.

And before that, say a century ago, Nyack had 10 or so grocers at a time, each with a speciality such as meat, fish, flour and canned goods.

Jack Dunnigan, who has lived and worked in Nyack for over 50 years — he owns the iconic Pickwick Book Shop on South Broadway — said it was always interesting to see how other stores (like Koblin's Pharmacy) have, over the years, worked to fill in essentials such as paper products and cleaning supplies. "But to do that big grocery shopping, Nyackers pretty much have to leave town," he said.

Which is why everyone, from the mayor to the shoppers to Roger Cohen, president of the Nyack Chamber of Commerce, consider this opening, in Cohen's words, "a really big deal."

"Certainly, having a grocery store will keep people in town, serve the many new families moving into new apartments here and add to the attraction of living in Nyack as a 'self sufficient' village," he said. "There's also a healthy synergy between the Fresh Market and the Nyack Farmers Market, which is right next door and held every Thursday."

Said Nyack Mayor Don Hammond, "we look forward to their success."

If you go

Address: 117 Main St., Nyack, 845-512-8877

Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 7 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Plans down the road include staying open 24 hours Fridays and Saturdays.

Grand opening: 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.

Social media has been flooded with reports of a strong chemical smell and residue in various Hudson Valley communities. While many believe it could be a result of the Ohio train derailment, the matter is currently under investigation.

Residents in Orange, Dutchess and Ulster have all been reporting strange chemical smells and residue left on cars, decks and streets. Some say the odor was "fragrant" and more "sweet smelling" than unpleasant. On Friday, Orange County government officials reported that hazmat teams were sent out to several Hudson Valley towns after residents reported "smelling an unusual odor and seeing residue on their cars."

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has joined Orange County Environmental Health staff and local first responders to concentrate their efforts in the New Windsor, Cornwall and Washingtonville areas where the majority of reports have been identified. Residents in Lagrange, Pleasant Valley, Woodstock and other neighboring communities have been leaving anecdotal reports of similar smells and residue. On Friday morning, officials reported that there was no known urgent public health threat.

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Late Friday, an update from the DEC stated that the initial investigation revealed that "odors are strongest in Orange County, indicating a localized source." Initial air readings determined that there was "no imminent public health or environmental threat" to the area. However, there has not been enough information to determine the cause.

Some residents were not convinced and pointed to similar reports over the past few days in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Hudson Valley Weather added fuel to the fire by posting a lengthy explanation of wind patterns from Ohio to the Hudson Valley over the past few days that may have "supported the dispersion of particles towards our region if they were in fact present in the upper atmosphere." The local weather page continued to post more photos and theories inferring that the local situation could be a result of a toxic cloud.

Experts, however, say it's highly unlikely the odor and residue are from Ohio because of the localized nature of the reports. Similar residue discovered in Connecticut is being explained by dust storms in the plains.

Random smells are pretty common in the Hudson Valley but coupled with the residue and similar reports in neighboring states they could be leading many to simply jump to conclusions. Whatever the reason, the DEC is continuing to monitor the situation and concerned residents should contact their local health department if they continue to notice any unusual odors or residue.

Nowadays, the words amusement park automatically brings to mind thoughts of Six Flags Great Adventure but a century ago, New Jersey was actually home to dozens of different amusement parks that drew thousands of visitors and entertained tourists. It is fascinating to think that what can once be iconic can easily fade to nothing. These are the lost amusement parks of New Jersey–are you old enough to remember any of these?

Action Park | Vernon

So infamous it even got its own Netflix documentary, Action Park first opened to the public in 1978. The park was known for it's one-of-a-kind water park that attracted thrill seekers from all over the tri-state area. Unfortunately, the park also quickly became infamous for its poor safety record. The combination of poorly designed rides, undertrained staff, and intoxicated guests ultimately led to the deaths of 6 people. Action Park eventually closed in 1996 due to numerous personal injury lawsuits. Under new ownership, Action Park has now been revamped to Mountain Creek–a popular ski resort .

Arcola Amusement Park | Paramus

A very short lived amusement park that was built along the Hudson River trolley line in the Arcola section of Rochelle Park and Paramus in 1926. In its heyday the park featured a roller coaster, carousel, Ferris wheel, a huge swimming pool, a dance pavilion, an auditorium, and a convention hall. Arcola Amusement Park suffered an unfortunate fire that destroyed everything besides its swimming pool in 1929. The swimming pool remained open to the public until the 1970s when it was eventually destroyed by a fire. The property was later sold to Ramada Inn.

Bertrand Island Amusement Park | Lake Hopatcong

Bertrand was an amusement park located right on the water in Lake Hopatcong. The park opened in 1910 and eventually expanded to include a wooden roller coaster, an airplane swing, bumper cars, picnic areas, an arcade, carosel, dance hall, and a cafeteria. Bertrand thrived for over 70 years until competition from other nearby parks forced it to close in 1983. Today the property is home to several townhouses.

Bowcraft Amusement Park | Scotch Plains

A small and charming amusement park that was home to just 21 rides, Bowcraft opened in the 1940s and thrived throughout most of the 20th century. In the 1980s the park saw major expansion and in the 1990s some pretty major movies were filmed here including Mortal Thoughts and North. Eventually though, Bowcraft met its demise in the 21st century likely due to low attendance rates and competition from other amusement parks. The park closed in 2017 and a year later was demolished completely to make way for 200 housing units.

Island Beach Amusement Park | Burlington

Located on an island in the Delaware River between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Burlington Island was once home to a regional attraction known as Island Beach State Park. Island Beach opened in the summer of 1917 and unfortunately suffered major fire damage during the 1920s. By the 1930s the park was sold to a series of private owners who had high hopes of getting that area back up and running as a family destination but those plans never materialized.

Olympic Park | Irvington

Opened back in 1904, Olympic Park was one of New Jersey's largest amusement parks in the early 20th century. Olympic featured a free circus, roller skating, roller coasters, a carousel, and Venetian swings. The park was also home to a theater, dancing and dining pavilions. The park met an unfortunate demise after the summer of 1965 when the sale of the property fell through. Walt Disney ended up buying the carousel and it can still be found in the Disney World park today near Cinderella's Castle.

Palace Amusements | Asbury Park

One of the oldest amusement parks on this list, Palace opened back in 1888 as an indoor amusement park that could remain open year round. This iconic boardwalk fixture featured a hand-carved carousel, murals, fun houses, a giant arcade, and ferris wheel. Unforunately, the 1970s and 1980s brought a lot of economic turmoil to the city of Asbury and Palace did not have the funds to stay in business any longer. The amusement park went out of business in 1988. The building was eventually demolished completely in 2004.

Palisades Amusement Park | Palisades Park

The Palisades Amusement Park was a massive amusement park built just west of Manhattan over the Hudson River in Cliffside Park and Fort Lee. Opened in 1898, Palisades was at one point the most visited park in the entire country. The park was eventually bought by the owners of Coney Island in the 1930s and continued to thrive through the next few decades due to its popular roller coaster ride and music pavilion. The popularity of Palisades Amusement Park eventually came to an end due to a combination of things like traffic, lack of parking, and a spike in park injuries and deaths. The park permanently closed in 1971 and four high-rise luxury apartments stand on the site of the old amusement park today.