What started several years ago as a partnership between two Dracut businessmen culminated on June 16, as Nova Farms --- Dracut’s fourth and final retail cannabis dispensary -- officially opened its doors with a daylong celebration.
Nearly five years ago, Bill Kaltsas, owner of Dracut Auto Butler, and Peter Niarhos, a longtime dentist in town, formed the company BKPN to pursue a cannabis license. Earlier this year, the duo partnered with Nova Farms, a Massachusetts cannabis company with dispensaries in Attleboro, Framingham and Greenville Junction, Maine, as well as Massachusetts’ first and largest cultivation facility in the Berkshires.
Nova Farms’ Dracut facility, at 1274 Merrimack Avenue (Route 110), held a soft opening on July 9, but kicked it up a few notches at the July 16 grand opening.
The festivities started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by Dracut Economic Development and included an appearance by Grammy-nominated rapper/actor Redman, local band Freevolt, food trucks, ice cream and more.
Marc Figueiredo, district manager for Nova Farms, says BKPN is still very much involved and that they laid the groundwork for the facility, which is located on land owned by Brox Industries.
“Peter and Billy created it,” Marc says. “They did a lot of the hard work and then asked us, ‘Can you help us bring this to the finish line?’ Nova Farms is in charge of day-to-day operations, and we work really well together. They’re part of the family.”
Bill and Peter attended the grand opening, and Peter cut the ceremonial green ribbon.
It was Peter’s idea to pursue a retail cannabis license after Dracut approved of the measure. He then got Bill on board.
“I felt it was a good business to get into,” says Peter, who also owns Mr. K’s Car Wash on Bridge Street with his wife, Tina. “I’ve lived in town, worked in town, and I wanted to open the business in town. I felt it could be profitable.”
He says he and Bill got together with Nova Farms after the company’s failed attempt to open a facility in Tyngsborough.
“There was a good chemistry with all of us,” Bill says.
Marc says Nova Farms’ goal is to provide “cheap and pleasing cannabis products,” and they’re able to do that because they produce their own products, thus keeping prices low.
“That’s our motto: We grow the most so you pay the least,” he says.
Nova Farms’ cannabis products are 100 percent sun-grown, using no pesticides.
The company prides itself on its “approachable culture.”
“When you enter our facilities, it doesn’t feel stuffy. It’s a homey vibe,” Marc says. “We’re here for everyone.”
He says the town has been approachable as well, which made the licensing process less grueling.
“We’ve felt really welcome in Dracut from the get-go,” he says. “We didn’t have to convince anyone.”
For more information, visit https://novafarms.com.