EASTPOINTE, Mich. – After a years-long battle, a recreational marijuana storefront is coming to Eastpointe.
In just a few weeks, Moses Roses will open its doors at the intersection of East Eight Mile Road and Kelly Road.
That means it will meet a deadline set by the city to be open by the end of the year.
The journey to its opening has been long and often contentious.
“Probably about a good 5 to 10 miles sometimes, just to get good prices and somewhere that is affordable,” Eastpointe resident Errin Wilson said about the trip he’s accustomed to taking in order to purchase marijuana.
Soon enough, there will be a spot just around the corner.
“We’re excited to be here,” President of Moses Roses Peter Tangalos said. “We never would be here without the support of the city of Eastpointe. They’ve done a great job helping us out … Lots of construction, basically had to redevelop the property and it’s been a lot of blood and sweat and tears.”
Tangalos says this will be his seventh location, but he’s waited years to be the first in Eastpointe.
Over four years ago, the city of Eastpointe passed an ordinance allowing medical marijuana to be sold in the city.
In 2022, only three medical licenses were given to three different prospective stores. None of them opened.
Earlier this year, the city passed an ordinance allowing recreational stores.
The three licenses were converted from medical to recreational. It required the businesses to be open by the end of the year.
“We are excited to get open for business as soon as possible,” Tangalos said.
But, some in the area are worried.
“There’s two schools back-to-back,” Eastpointe resident Joavier Jones said. “A lot of traffic going through here.”
The location is within a mile of three Harper Woods schools, but is farther than the required 500 foot buffer.
Wilson still feels it will boost the area.
“I think it will kind of improve the neighborhood a little bit,” Wilson said. “It will bring more jobs and help people to stop having to go to other places.”
Tangalos said he hopes the community will welcome the store with open arms.