The basics:

• Premo opens 2nd New Jersey dispensary in Dover
• Expands Black-owned cannabis business into Morris County
• Delivery service planned by the end of July
• Grand opening celebration set for July 18

After launching its first cannabis dispensary two years ago in Monmouth County, Premo is expanding to add a shop in Morris County.

The independent, family- and Black-owned business recently began welcoming customers to its new shop at 330 S. Salem St. in Dover.

Staffed by a team of 10 employees, the store aims to provide access to safe, high-quality cannabis products in a secure environment. It carries a curated selection of flower, pre-rolls, vaporizers, edibles, concentrates, tinctures, topicals and beverages.

Premo initially arrived on the scene in April 2024 when it opened in a former Wells Fargo Bank building in Keyport. The store remains the only legal cannabis shop in the Monmouth County municipality.

Family affair

Two father-son duos – Darrin Chandler Sr. and Darrin Chandler Jr. and Donald and Skye Blanks – lead the business. Together, the quartet brings diverse backgrounds in music, real estate, fitness and the legacy market to create a premium yet inclusive retail destination, Premo says.

In addition to creating a welcoming, education-focused retail experience, the founders have said they’re focused on generating jobs and helping revitalize downtown. In an industry where Black ownership remains underrepresented, the New Jersey-certified minority business enterprise has also emphasized social equity and creating job opportunities as core parts of the company’s mission.

Within its first year, Premo ranked as a top 10 independent dispensary in New Jersey. It also consistently appears in the top 10% of the 300-plus cannabis retailers in the state, according to cannabis retail management and point-of-sale platform Flowhub.

As part of its family-run approach, Premo has prioritized charitable initiatives, too. That’s included holiday turkey drives and school supply collections. The location in Dover will do similar outreach, according to Premo.

‘A new phase’

Premo CEO Darrin Chandler Jr. told NJBIZ, “Opening Premo Dover is an incredibly meaningful milestone for our team because it validates the vision we’ve had since day one. This isn’t simply about opening a second dispensary, it’s about proving that an independent, community-driven company can build a scalable cannabis business in New Jersey.”

He went on to say, “I also believe the New Jersey cannabis industry is entering a new phase. The market is becoming more competitive, and operators are beginning to separate themselves through execution, customer experience, operational excellence, and brand building.”

“As the industry matures, I believe we’ll see consolidation, stronger partnerships, and companies with clear long-term strategies emerge as market leaders. Premo intends to be one of those companies,” he continued.

Besides his role as CEO of Premo, Darrin Chandler Jr. also is the director of cannabis real estate at RIPCO. Additionally, he serves as president of Premium Genetics, a Black- and family-owned venture that provides consultant services for cannabis brands.

To celebrate its arrival in Dover, Premo is offering 30% off select products through July 31.

A July 18 grand opening event will include a parking lot party with food trucks, a live DJ and vendor activations. During the entire weekend, Premo will give a 40% discount on certain items. The shop will also offer $1 eighths for the first 750 customers each day.

Similar to Keyport, Dover will offer delivery to surrounding communities. A spokesperson said the in-house service will roll out by the end of July at the new dispensary.