Hartford Business Journal

12 Hartford Business Journal • January 14, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com FOCUS giving companies an opportunity to network at a central location with other Spaces tenants. We only enter new markets where we know we can meet the demand for new and existing clients. Is there anything that will be offered at the Spaces co-working location that is unique, or not offered by other traditional co-working sites? A key differentiator for IWG is the diversity in the geographies we oper- ate in, the type of companies we work with and the offerings we provide. Spaces originated in Amsterdam and exploded into the U.S. co-working scene in 2015. Since that time, it has built up an expansive portfolio spanning the globe. The company currently has more than 50 co-working spaces in the U.S. And, as part of the IWG network, members have access to more than 3,300 locations in over 1,000 cities across more than 110 countries. Scale is important for our customers who can work from anywhere. What types of businesses are you hop- ing to attract? What are the contract terms of rental spaces? Spaces works with all types of clients from startups to small- and medium- sized enterprises to large multination- als, including Uber and Microsoft. Whether it be the startup looking for an agile space to network and attract talent, or a large conglomer- ate looking to scale their workspace without locking in to a long-term, rigid real estate agreement, we offer something unique to every client type. The benefit of co-working is that there is flexibility in contract terms. Companies are not bound by long-term leases and they can expand and contract quickly based on their business needs. Does Spaces plan to open other Con- necticut locations? Connecticut will continue to remain a key growth market for us and we see lots of opportunities to expand our presence within the state. How do you see the co-working trend evolving over the next five years? Our sister company, Regus, just re- cently announced the results of its eco- nomic study, which predicts a boom in flexible working that could contribute up to $4.2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy by the year 2030. We see the industry continuing to grow because the personal and strategic benefits for people and business are so strong. >> Q&A: Berretta continued cal marijuana dispensaries or created overlay zones allowing the facilities. "The values and benefits (of medical marijuana) are becoming well-known to everyone," said Ray Pantalena, manager of Affinity Health & Wellness Inc., which recently won a license to open a dispen- sary in New Haven. "The city was very responsive when we presented our plan. I did not have any negative feedback from local residents. It went pretty smoothly." Pantalena, a pharmacist for almost 40 years in New Haven County, said he has witnessed a dramatic shift in acceptance for medical marijuana dur- ing his career. His company has leased a former 7-Eleven convenience store at 1351 Whal- ley Ave., for its dispensary operation. The 3,000-square-foot facility, New Ha- ven's first medical marijuana storefront, is expected to open in April, he said. Pockets of resistance, however, still exist. Towns such as New Canaan and Guil- ford have banned medical marijuana dispensaries and production facilities. North Branford, which temporarily banned the facilities last year, is current- ly reviewing whether to allow marijuana dispensaries and production sites. And some towns that have approved dispensary zoning regulations — like Wethersfield — have gotten pushback from residents. What's unclear is how municipal atti- tudes might change if Connecticut legal- izes recreational marijuana use, which Gov. Ned Lamont said is a top priority for his newly tapped administration. The majority of Connecticut residents — 59 percent — said they support legalizing recreational use of the drug, according to a 2018 poll by Quinnipiac University, signaling fairly broad accep- tance, which will likely continue to grow as legalization in other states — includ- ing neighboring Massachusetts — is expected to further shed stigmas associ- ated with using the THC-based drug. Where to locate Several new dispensary operators, many of whom are longtime phar- macists or healthcare entrepreneurs, and their brokers said they focused on leasing or purchasing commercial properties in areas with the largest un- derserved populations. They also sought spaces with the capacity to expand. Lora Rae Anderson, a spokeswoman for DCP, said the state's "thorough" vet- ting process considers pro- posed site-plan applications, quality of care, local demand for medical cannabis and other variables before award- ing licenses. DCP, she says, looks at whether facilities are in safe loca- tions, acces- sible to main highways, and have the capac- ity to expand. The agency also reviews sitemaps measuring a facility's proximity to nearby places of worship and schools. The nine dispensaries recently tapped for licenses by DCP are expected to open in the first half of 2019, she said. "There was a wide variety of applica- tions," Anderson said. "We are happy that these spaces are being taken by medical facilities." Torrington, Litchfield County's larg- est city, is an ideal location for a medical marijuana dispensary due to its accom- modating regulations and large number of registered patients, said Thomas Macre, CEO and president of C-3 Ven- tures LLC, which recently won rights to open the city's first dispensary. Martin Connor, Torrington's city planner, said residents overwhelming- ly supported C-3 Ventures' proposal as well as others who sought commercial zoning chang- es to allow dispensaries. "We heard from residents who are pa- tients that had to drive to Bris- tol to pick up prescriptions," said Connor of the transporta- tion barriers facing cer- tain patients. "There is a big need locally." C-3 Ventures submitted a "strong" ap- plication providing convenient access to Route 8, a main artery in western Connecticut, he said. Macre, who also owns Orange-based medical equipment supplier Medtech Healthcare, said his group — includ- ing an equity partner, two capital investors, and a state-required phar- macist and dispensary manager — received a few public concerns about safety that were eventually quelled. Real estate agent Bob Brown, of Torrington-based Cohen Agency Inc., is helping C-3 Ventures finalize its purchase of a multi-use property on Winsted Road. Brown identified four locations for C-3 Ventures to consider in Tor- rington, but chose the Winsted Road lot at the preference of the city's zon- ing commission. After expanding the facility, C-3 Ventures will occupy over 3,000 square feet at the former convenient deli and liquor store. Another 1,500 square feet on-site will be unoccupied. C-3 Ventures expects to launch opera- tions in roughly April or May, Macre said. Willow Brook Wellness LLC also re- cently won rights to open a dispensary and plans to debut this year in leased commercial space at 1371 East Main St., in Meriden. Mary Morgan, Willow Brook's principal, pharmacist and dis- pensary manager, said the company's first-ever dispensary will hire at least three pharmacists, five dispensary technicians and a support staff. Morgan said the Meriden facility will serve an underserved popula- tion within a half-mile of Middlesex County. Bluepoint Wellness of Connecticut, which has operated a Branford dis- pensary since Sept. 2014, recently won rights to open another retail clinic in Westport. One of six applicants to receive Westport's zoning approval, co-founder Tim Tamborrino plans to open the new 3,500-square-foot site in partnership with West Haven marijua- na producer Advanced Grow Labs. Bluepoint's Westport application, Tamborrino said, was met with public concern at local planning and zoning meetings, as residents questioned the program's patient demographics. Those concerns were subdued over six months, he said, when his group outlined the strength of Connecticut's medical marijuana program as one of the nation's best. "We spoke the truth and knew what we were talking about at the public hear- ings," Tamborrino said of misinforma- tion at town meetings. "It was obvious who knew vs. those who didn't." >> Welcome Mat continued Growing Interest The state Department of Consumer Protection recently awarded nine new licenses for medical marijuana dispen- saries. There were a total of 76 applicants competing for the licenses. The largest number of applications came from entrepreneurs in the following municipalities: Registered patients 2018 site Town/city per county applications Stamford 6,584 13 Westport 6,584 6 Torrington 1,953 5 Hamden 7,160 5 New Haven 7,160 4 Source: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection These buildings in (left) Meriden, 1371 East Main St., and (right) Torrington are slated house new medical marijuana dispensaries this spring. PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED

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