Business

MAKING HIS CASE – Gary Burnett describes the cannabis business he wanted to put in a building at DeMott Lane and Amwell Road at the August 7 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting. An application to locate a cannabis dispensary in a residentially zoned building at DeMott Lane and Amwell Road was denied August 7 by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. …

PROPOSED FLOOR PLAN – An engineer’s rendering of the proposed floor plan for the Bounce Air Adventure Park planned for a space in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue. Plans for an indoor children’s playground and restaurant targeted for Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue have been submitted to the Township Planning Department. The developer of the roughly 21,000-square-foot project is Bounce …

An application seeking permission to locate a cannabis dispensary in a residential zone is scheduled to be heard by the Zoning Board of Adjustment at its August 7 meeting. The applicant, Hound Town 543, wants to take part of the Bilco bicycle repair shop at the corner of Amwell Road and DeMott Lane and transform it into a dispensary. The …

GRAND OPENING – Paradise Fusion offers a variety of cuisines at its Route 27 location. To the three partners behind the new Paradise Fusion restaurant, making connections is the key. Whether its through their menu filled with South Asian, Korean, Japanese, and Indo-Chinese selections, or through the planned bubble tea bar, the owners of the restaurant located at 3211 Route …

A GROWING SECTOR – Five of the township’s cannabis-related businesses recorded sales of at least $1 million in the first half of 2025. (File photo). Cannabis-related businesses in the township generated more than $251,000 in sales taxes in the first half of 2025. That translates to nearly $13 million in sales, and a Franklin cannabis industry on track to eclipse …

Community members can create their own floral bouquets May 9 and May 10 at Venus Jewelers’ “Blooms for Mom” Mother’s Day event. The newly renovated store, located in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue, will feature a flower bar where participants can create their bouquets at no charge. Designed as a gesture of appreciation for moms and caregivers, this no purchase …

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 …