Coppolino said they were able to partner with a local company, with an established presence, and maintain the store as a small business.

“That was a big part of it,” Coppolino said. “They were local people. We felt better about that. We wanted to be a family business.”

The Coppolinos, along with Hello Cannabis CEO Stephen Verbeek and his team, opened the 57 Cootes Dr. Dundas store on April 26, 2019. It was about a week after Canna Cabana opened its doors on Barton Street East, and the newborn industry was facing a product shortage.

Original store manager Frank Germana said the Dundas store came close to facing a shortage, but managed by maxing out their first order, and subsequent weekly orders after that.

“We had reserves to draw from,” he said.

By the time the store’s reserves were dropping, the supply improved.

Coppolino, who was working at the store from the start, took over as manager when the partnership with Hello Cannabis ended, and said the later opening meant less of the “door-crashing” business of curiosity seekers that others may have had earlier in the month.

Germana agreed business was strong from the start.

“We saw a good business right out of the gate, and it steadily increased after that,” Germana said. “We saw real business from day one. I think the stigma is more perceived than real.”

He said they saw supporters of the black market become customers when…