Star Buds to Open in Buffalo;Job Fair Scheduled for Saturday

Local dispensary will offer wide selection of cannabis products

A New York State licensed cannabis dispensary with deep local roots announced that it will soon open in Buffalo and is looking to grow its opening workforce.

Star Buds (License # OCM-CAURD-24-000204), which is licensed and owned by Nick Pitillo and Ed Gurbacki, owners of popular restaurants Osteria 166 in Buffalo and Villaggio in Ellicottville, is planning to open in the coming weeks at 396 Kenmore Ave., in the City of Buffalo. The 1,600-square-foot facility will offer a wide variety of high-quality cannabis products including several strains of flower, multiple types of edibles, vapes and cartridges, topicals, oils and waxes, all presented and explained by highly knowledgeable associates. The dispensary’s curated product list will feature selections from many local companies, such as Bison Botanics, House of Sacci, Dent Neurologic Institute, Lions Mane, and Rural Resurgence, among others. Star Buds will also feature a drive-up window where established customers will be able to receive orders placed online.

“This is an exciting new opportunity for us,” Pitillo said, noting that he has been pursuing licensing and the right location for the dispensary for the past three years. “We’re thrilled with our location and what we will be able to offer customers, in terms of both quality and convenience. Most of all, we’re grateful and excited to open and continue serving the people of our community in another way.”

As the interior build-out of the Kenmore Ave. facility is completed, Star Buds is looking to round-out the dispensary’s opening team. A job fair for interested candidates aged 21 and older will be held this Saturday, September 21, from 11am-5pm, at the dispensary, 396 Kenmore Ave. Star Buds plans to initially employ approximately 20 people.

Pitillo, a 40-plus-year veteran of the restaurant and hospitality industry, is bringing the same culture and customer and experience-focused philosophy to Star Buds that he employs at his restaurants.

“From the day we opened Osteria 166 in 2013 and Villaggio in 2015, we have always been about making people feel welcome,” he said. “I believe the quality of your products can speak for itself, but if your service doesn’t match that same quality, you’ve missed your opportunity. We hope our hospitality and service approach helps set us apart. For us, finding the right people to join our team is far more important than a specific number of people.”

“There are a lot of people who are curious or don’t know much about the new legal cannabis industry, so they are intimidated to walk into a dispensary,” Gurbacki added. “We want them to feel at ease. Our team will be ready to answer all of their questions and help educate customers on what products best fit what they are looking for.”

Pitillo is starting this new venture with a familiar team supporting him. His sister, Kim Pitillo, is General Manager of Star Buds, and Dexter Chow-Yuk, a longtime friend, is Assistant General Manager of the retail store.

“Family, community and quality have always been the foundation of what we do,” Pitillo added. “This is our home. We live here, we’re investing here, and we want our local businesses, at the restaurants and at Star Buds, to be successful in a way that serves and benefits our community.”

An official opening date and initial operating hours for Star Buds will be announced soon. Plans are for the dispensary to be open seven days a week.

For more information, visit https://www.starbuds.us/newyork.