Business

OFFICIAL RIBBON-CUTTING – Deputy Mayor Shepa Uddin and Township Councilman Ram Anbarasan cut the ribbon March 22 at Herb’s Premium Dispensary on Franklin Boulevard. One of the township’s newest cannabis dispensaries held a grand opening party on March 22. Herb’s Premium Dispensary, located at 757 Franklin Boulevard, brought in a DJ, food trucks, barbecue and catered food to formally celebrate …

MULTI MILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS – Bloc Somerset, located in the Village Plaza shopping center on Easton Avenue, recorded more than $6 million in sales in 2024. (File photo.) The 12 cannabis retailers operating at least part of 2024 in Franklin generated nearly $400,000 in sales taxes paid to the Township. Cannabis retailers pay 2 percent of their receipts to the …

Two township-based businesses are among 23 throughout the state recently awarded a total of $1.7 million in state grants for developing technology, therapeutics, and other solutions to address maternal and infant health challenges. The businesses, both located in Somerset, are Primo PharmaTech, which creates novel drug delivery technology, and MedifVu, which develops technologies to help determine the nest treatment plans …

RIBBON-CUTTING – From left to right: FTPD Detective Robert Brown, Franklin Food Bank Executive Director Derek Smith, Dunkin’ Franchisees Mohamed Elsharkawy and Mai Omar, Deputy Mayor Shepa Uddin; FTPD Officer Malcolm Belvin; Somerset Dunkin’ Manager Snehal Patel; Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter; and FTPD Officer Ken Reid II help with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. (Photo: Dunkin’) Township political and business officials …

RIBBON-CUTTING – Mayor Phil Kramer cuts the ceremonial ribbon as store owner George Zavacky (left) looks on. There was a little party at Cedar Grove Centre, on Cedar Grove Lane, on January 24, and the public was invited. The occasion was the grand opening of MJ’s Affordable Kitchens, which offers soup-to-nuts design and installation of kitchens, and more. George Zavacky, …

CITATION DELIVERED – State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen holds the citation from the state Legislature, flanked by La Providencia owners Lilia Rios and Fransisco del Toro. The owners of La Providencia, a four-month-old store offering Mexican products, received a special guest on January 14: State Assemblyman Joe Danielsen. Danielsen (D-17) didn’t come empty-handed. He brought with him a citation from the …

MCDONALDLAND CHARACTERS – The Hamburglar, Grimace and Birdie were among the guests celebrating the grand opening of McDonald’s in Rutgers Plaza December 19. McDonaldland celebrities were among those in attendance December 19 to celebrate the grand opening of the newly relocated McDonald’s in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue. Grimace, Birdie and, of course, the Hamburglar were on hand to commemorate …

It doesn’t look like retail cannabis businesses in the township will have the chance to expand their business to include “cannabis consumption areas.” There is no interest on the part of the Township Council to make the needed code changes to allow for the smoking parlors, Mayor Phil Kramer said on December 18. And Vince Dominach, the Township’s Economic Development …

The champagne was flowing December 6 at Venus Jewelers‘ in the Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue as the family owned business celebrated its new location. The new, larger store is only steps away from its former location, but light years away in feel and ambience. The event was hosted by co-owners Peter Stavrianidis and Dorothy Fount, and Jason Stavrianidis, who …

LT. GOVERNOR IN FRANKLIN – Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way speaks to a reception held for members of the New Jersey-India Commission and Choose New Jersey, about the upcoming trade mission to India that she will lead. The event was held at Samudhra restaurant in Franklin Park. Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way joined a delegation of members from the New Jersey-Indian Commission …