A new cannabis dispensary is now open in Bloomfield as of January 12th, 2024. Nightjar is a women- and minority-owned, social equity-driven cannabis dispensary at 549 Bloomfield Avenue. The dispensary is led by the founders Francesca DeRogatis, Katie Covett, and Amanda Rositano. Read more to learn about Nightjar cannabis, Bloomfield’s newest dispensary.
Photo credit: Francesca DeRogatis
About Nightjar
Following the legalization of recreational cannabis in New Jersey, Bloomfield has received many proposals from individuals and businesses seeking to establish dispensaries within the township, including the owners of Nightjar, which is now open at 549 Bloomfield Avenue.
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Francesca DeRogatis is the New Jersey native and COO of Nightjar and shared her personal journey for opening a cannabis shop, “I’ve personally consumed cannabis for almost 20 years, finding it to be a better treatment for anxiety than traditional pharmaceuticals.” Her passion for the plant led her to enter the cannabis industry, drawing on her background in marketing and completing an MBA.
Photo credit: Francesca DeRogatis
Francesca gained experience working in an in-house position at a Massachusetts-based cannabis company. This exposed her to the operations side of a business and inspired her to launch her own dispensary.
After gathering a full team of family and friends who have experience working with cannabis, Nightjar emerged as a women- and family-owned dispensary, led by co-founders Francesca DeRogatis; Katie Covett, a passionate people connector, attorney, and designer; and Amanda Rositano, an East Coast cannabis industry pioneer. The team’s shared vision for Nightjar is to normalize the cannabis shopping experience and eliminate stigma for people who choose to incorporate cannabis into their lives.
“There is still a lot of stigma around cannabis use, and people who do use cannabis often feel like they need to keep it a secret. The typical cannabis shopping experience often contributes to that, with overly burdensome processes, and sterile or clinical shop environments. We’re here to validate that it’s okay to shop for cannabis, it’s okay to use it in whatever capacity that suits you, and that Nightjar is here to help if that’s what you’re looking for,” Francesca said.
The journey to bring Nightjar to life was a three-year endeavor, marked by a series of steps required by the state in the cannabis industry. These include securing property, navigating municipal zoning regulations, applying for a state license, collaborating with local building departments and contractors, and raising the necessary funds.
“It has been a labor of love and we’d do it all over again if we had to because we are building something special, with intention. It has all been really hard but nothing good comes easy, and we are willing to put in the work because we believe in this industry and this plant,” Francesca said.
Francesca shared that Bloomfield was a first-choice location for the dispensary based on her roots in Essex County. The dispensary’s placement in Bloomfield’s central business district aligns with the company’s mission to contribute to the community’s well-being.
What to Expect
While many existing dispensaries in New Jersey have a medical or clinical focus, Nightjar strives for a more personalized experience. Nightjar aims for an atmosphere that is welcoming and inviting, separate from other dispensaries that feel like a doctor’s appointment or pharmacy visit. As Francesca described, Nightjar mimics a local bookstore, “For an easy comparison, think about Amazon and a local bookstore. People can easily purchase the exact book they’d like from Amazon, but the experience is lacking and they really need to know what they’re looking for. A local bookstore might highlight lesser-known authors who have ties to the area and employ book lovers who can provide a suggestion based on other books you’ve enjoyed. Nightjar will be that local bookstore.”
Photo credit: Francesca DeRogatis
Nightjar is a retail-only establishment and sources all of its products exclusively from licensed cannabis cultivators and manufacturers across the state. The dispensary features a variety of cannabis products that align with New Jersey’s approved offerings, such as flower and pre-rolls, vaporizers for those who want a quick effect but don’t prefer to smoke, concentrates for customers looking for potency and flavor, edibles, which were recently expanded in the state, and topicals, which can provide relief without any psychoactive effects.
The founders of the dispensary have experience working in cannabis and personally being cannabis consumers. Relying on that experience, the team will receive ongoing training to support customers in making product selections, first by seeking to understand their desired outcomes, and narrowing down options based on the customer’s preferred method of consumption (smoking, vaporizing, edibles, tinctures), safe dosing, and brand and product availability.
Nightjar also offers educational resources to customers, especially those who are new to cannabis. The founders want to ensure that every customer has the information they need to consume cannabis safely and responsibly. Alongside staff training to help customers choose the right products, dispensary provides a consumer guide and other written and online materials for those new to cannabis, or who need a refresher course to ensure a great experience.
Grand Opening
Nightjar was aiming to open sometime before the end of 2023, but officially opened up on Friday, January 12th, 2024. The opening makes it the second dispensary to open in Bloomfield, New Jersey.
See More: Hoboken Dispensary ‘Terrapin Care Station’ Open on River Street
“We look forward to building an environment where our staff and our customers feel comfortable being themselves, and feel part of a community that respects their choices and needs,” Francesca said.
For more information, visit the company’s website and Instagram page, and be sure to follow @themontclairgirl for more news and lifestyle content on Instagram and TikTok.
