New Dispensary Silver Jade Eyes Spark’d Location in Crystal Lake

Plans are underway for a new marijuana dispensary, Silver Jade, to occupy the former Spark’d location at 330 N. Route 31 in Crystal Lake. This development follows the abrupt closure of Spark’d in December 2022, which ceased operations after just one year. The Crystal Lake Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a special use permit for Silver Jade last week, and the Crystal Lake City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposal on September 16, 2023.

If the council approves the plan, Silver Jade will become the second marijuana dispensary in Crystal Lake, joining Ivy Hall. The premises are still owned by 330N LLC, which includes real estate agent Tony Bellino and 280E LLC, owned by brothers Bryan and Zachary Zises. The Zises family also owns Dispensary 33 in Richmond, Illinois, and previously operated the Crystal Lake Spark’d store. Zachary Zises indicated to the Northwest Herald that Spark’d closed due to unprofitability, stating that “the owner needed to find a different path.” Conflicting visions between ownership and management was also cited as a contributing factor.

Silver Jade emerged as one of 35 businesses awarded a state Conditional Adult Use Dispensing Organization License in the Social Equity Criteria Lottery in 2023, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Omar Fakhouri, a representative from Mint Cannabis, attended the planning and zoning meeting as a consultant. Mint Cannabis operates a network of dispensaries across the United States, including locations in Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, and Missouri, with one branch in Willowbrook, Illinois, owned by Fakhouri.

Given that a dispensary previously operated at the same location, city commissioners expressed support for Silver Jade, provided the owners adhere to all municipal regulations. However, Deb Parquette, owner of Purrfect Cat Rescue, raised concerns about potential odors and smoking in the vicinity, particularly as her shelter shares a parking lot with the proposed dispensary. Parquette noted, “I would go home some evenings, and my vehicle would smell like pot. As far as I’m concerned, there shouldn’t be that smell because they’re not allowed to partake in that on the property.”

City Planner Elizabeth Maxwell highlighted past issues with the former dispensary, explaining that city police had “numerous interactions with the former management.” A notice of violation was issued to Spark’d for hosting an event without the necessary special permits. One of the city’s stipulations for the new dispensary prohibits on-site marijuana consumption. In response to community concerns, Fakhouri assured attendees that the operators of Silver Jade maintain a “zero tolerance” policy regarding consumption on-site.

As the upcoming council vote approaches, the community watches closely, anticipating the potential return of a marijuana dispensary to Crystal Lake.