Batavia commission moves potential pot shop forward

Batavia is in the review process for potentially opening the city’s first cannabis shop.

Plan Commission members reviewed a proposal from Boston based applicant Rubino Ventures, LLC, requesting a conditional use permit to operate a recreational cannabis dispensary called Dutchess Cannabis, out of the former Arby’s restaurant on Randall Road.

The building at 144 S. Randall Road has been vacant since 2018. The property is owned by Chicago-based corporation MGMN Batavia LLC.

A public hearing was held at the meeting, but no members of the public were there to speak.

Attorney Tyler Manic was at the meeting on behalf of the applicant, along with vice president of operations Alexis Bigi-Prow and members of their security, development and logistics teams.

Dutchess Cannabis is proposing hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

This would be the fifth Dutchess Cannabis location, with dispensaries in Oak Park and Morton Grove that opened earlier this year, and two under development in Lake Zurich and North Riverside.

Bigi-Prow told the commission that if they receive city approval, they would like to begin construction in February and open around June 2025.

Commission members recommended approval of the conditional use permit in an unanimous vote.

The proposal will be reviewed next by the Committee of the Whole at their Jan. 14 meeting.