2nd Woman-Owned Cannabis Dispensary Will Open In Bloomfield
Defying the "grass ceiling," Bloomfield will soon have its second woman-owned marijuana dispensary when Blue Oak opens its doors.
Some experts have warned about a “grass ceiling” in the legal marijuana industry, which has seen chronic gender-based disparities in the past. But soon, Bloomfield will be home to its second woman-owned cannabis retailer when Blue Oak Dispensary opens its doors to the public.
Bloomfield’s newest cannabis dispensary – which is located at 1025 Broad Street – will celebrate its grand opening from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25. The event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, music, prizes, donuts and hot drinks by the Glazed and Confused food truck.
Following the grand opening, Blue Oak will be open seven days a week (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday).
Founder Danielle Wildstein said the goal is to “create a nurturing atmosphere” that promotes unity and well-being.
“We're dedicated to offering a safe, inclusive and welcoming space where people can explore the positive impacts of cannabis on their well-being,” the New Jersey native said.
Like many other cannabis entrepreneurs in the Garden State, Wildstein wasn’t always in the 420 business.
According to a news release from Blue Oak:
“Owner and CEO Danielle Wildstein leverages over two decades of multifaceted expertise and a master’s degree in human resources in the business world. From her beginnings as a management consultant at Accenture, Danielle excelled in diverse roles, contributing significantly to mergers and acquisitions, clinical trials, new drug launches, and supply chain integration for her pharmaceutical clients. She then transitioned to chief of staff positions supporting titans within the retail, film and fashion industries.”
The entrepreneur is now hoping to put that mélange of work experience into action at Blue Oak. And that includes going beyond simply providing people with a well-appreciated bit of greenery, she says.
“We're here to empower our community through cannabis education,” Wildstein said.
Blue Oak isn’t the only woman-owned marijuana dispensary looking to make a difference in Bloomfield.
Nightjar – a women and minority-owned dispensary located at 549 Bloomfield Avenue – held a grand opening in January with a pledge to “take cannabis out of the shadows and into its prominent place in our community.”
