A new cannabis dispensary with local ownership is under construction in Rockford

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our mobile app

ROCKFORD — A new cannabis dispensary with a local ownership team is under construction on the city’s east side.

Lyfe Cannabis Dispensary will fill what was once World Gym fitness center at 6774 Troy Drive, which is near Aldi and Midland States Bank along East State Street.

The company is run by local entrepreneurs Reed Sjostrom, Michael Hodges and Dustin Koch. Sjostrom and Koch are the founders of Prairie Street Brewing Co. and Hodges, who has previous experience in the cannabis industry in California, is the owner of Artison Group, a sports management agency.

“We’re big on being community focused and doing things the right way,” Sjostrom said in an interview Monday, “and just presenting a well thought out and beautiful brand.”

More business: A new dual-brand restaurant is coming to Riverside Boulevard in Loves Park

The city issued a building permit valued at $725,000 on May 9 for renovations at the 11,500-square-foot space. The company’s goal is to open by late summer or early fall.

advertisement

The project has been in the work for more than two years. On July 29, 2021, DMR Wellness, the LLC that runs Lyfe, received its conditional cannabis adult-use license in a qualified applicant lottery. The group purchased the property in on Sept. 2, 2021, for $800,000 from Fieldman LLC, according to records from the Winnebago County Clerk & Recorder’s Office.

The local ownership group said it will keep its focus on giving back to this community.

“It’s been a big point to us to make sure we’re, one, responsible cannabis license-holders and true to ourselves to make sure we don’t do anything that we don’t think is good for the community,” Sjostrom said. “We’re going to do everything we can to do our part and make sure that the position we’re put in because of this that we give back to the community as much as we can.”

More news: Here’s the deal: Rockford lays out incentive package to spur $420M revamp of Barber-Colman campus

Lyfe will have the largest retail space of the dispensaries in the city, Sjostrom said.

“People will be able to come in, be welcomed in, and be educated by our team, whether that’s a private consultation or just a chat on the floor,” Sjostrom said. “We want to listen to the community and hear what they want to say and learn from them.”

The ownership group views Lyfe not just as a dispensary, but a lifestyle brand.

“It’s not just about that person that’s just coming in for a retail experience at a convenience store. It’s far more experiential,” he said.

There are two other dispensaries inside the city limits: Mapleglen Care Center, 4777 Stenstrom Road, Rockford. Sunnyside, 2696 McFarland Road.

More business: New milling business wants to help the Rockford area create carpentry with character

There is also one in Loves Park, The Happy Cannabis Co., 4120 N. Bell School Road, and South Beloit, Sunnyside at 7000 First Ranger Drive.

Another cannabis dispensary coming to the region was approved earlier this year by the Belvidere City Council. Highland Park-based Heartland Leaf is coming to 1874 Crystal Parkway. The Belvidere City Council approved a special-use permit for that development on Feb. 6.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.