"I'm nervous because nothing is ever perfect, nothing's ever finished, but it is what it is," Kleydman said ahead of the opening. "That's why we're doing the soft opening: so we can just take it slow, get everybody accustomed to it, get to know our customers a little bit, and get to know the product better so we can sell it better."
Kaya Bliss has faced significant hurdles since beginning its application process with OCM in May 2023. Alongside regulatory challenges, the dispensary also encountered resistance from some community members opposed to the first legal cannabis store in Bay Ridge.
The Community Board 10 voted on June 20, 2024, to recommend OCM deny Kaya Bliss' application. The vote followed a contentious public meeting where residents voiced concerns about the dispensary's proximity to schools, houses of worship, and a local daycare.
Although the dispensary's application adhered to cannabis laws prohibiting retail storefronts within 500 feet of schools or 200 feet of houses of worship, critics pointed to the nearby Home Sweet Home Child Day Care Center, located within 500 feet of the site.
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