Veteran-owned and operated CNA Stores is the latest proposed retail marijuana dispensary to petition Haverhill’s City Council for a special permit, with CEO Robert DiFazio set to go before the local governing body on Tuesday, July 9 for permission to open his 558 River St. shop, he tells WHAV.
First outlining plans for his 4,000 square-foot space for Haverhill neighbors in February, DiFazio and business partner Billie Haggard tell WHAV they intend to be good corporate neighbors.
“We’re working with the city of Haverhill to make sure this is a positive impact on Haverhill, not a negative one,” said DiFazio, who is the president of six-year-old Ward Hill data services company Critical Solutions Group. “With CNA Stores, it will be done right – there will be no negative impacts. We will make sure of that.”
Amesbury’s DiFazio, a Navy veteran, plans to sell product obtained from wholesaler Sanctuary Medicinals and anticipates hiring as many as 20 local veterans to run his dispensary.
DiFazio is the third retail marijuana entrepreneur to make it to Haverhill’s special permit phase. On May 21, the Council gave Full Harvest Moonz owner Janet Kupris a two-week extension to shore up a backup parking shuttle plan for her Plaistow Road dispensary. Longtime downtown business owner Caroline Pineau has her eye on Washington Street’s Stem, which goes before the Council on June 18.