(ABOVE) Developer Paul Offutt and Parkway Dispensary CEO Ambrose Jackson watch the ribbon fall after Saturday’s official cutting.
The new Cannabis Dispensary off Illinois Route 1/Georgetown Road in Tilton has officially cut the ribbon. Parkway Dispensary will not only be a cannabis dispensary, but it will have a consumption lounge, as well as an outdoor porch for entertainment. And across the access road, a cultivation center is planned to be operational by the end of this year.
Prior to Saturday’s ribbon cutting, developer Paul Offutt said meeting 1937 Group and Parkway Dispensary CEO Ambrose Jackson has now allowed him to reach a dream. He has lost two wives to cancer. His first, Donna, is immortalized on a bench statue outside the building, along with the access road off Route 1 being named “Donna Drive.” Then Offutt’s second wife, Molly, is remembered with the indoor consumption lounge, Molly’s Joint, named in her honor.
AUDIO: Her big goal, with all of this going on, was to be our medical director for cannabis, if and when we got a license. So low and behold, we’ve now got our growth license across the way on Donna Drive. And by chance of meeting Ambrose Jackson; he was good for me, I was good for him.
Tilton mayor Bill Wear confessed that it’s been rocky at times working things out with Paul Offutt. But no doubt, they both wanted this to happen, very much. Wear says the memory of Molly Offutt’s battle against cancer was such a motivating factor.
AUDIO: And one of the things that she found relief was with marijuana. So, the dream he wanted to fulfill; and he came out to us and asked us, and we decided to partner with him. And just take a look at this place. He created beautiful scenery for Georgetown Road.
Ambrose Jackson’s desire to build such a facility downstate, going back half a decade, hit a snag when he was turned down last January in Danville. But now, along Georgetown Road in Tilton, the reality is here.
(1st Picture) Patrons enjoying Parkway Dispensary grand opening. (2nd Picture) Tilton mayor Bill Wear speaks prior to ribbon cutting. (3rd Picture) A tribute to Molly Layden-Offutt in the consumption lounge includes mention of her years of work caring for Veterans at VA Illiana Health Care.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: It feels amazing after five years to be at this point. We’re exited. We’re trying to just try to bridge the gap; trying to help people understand that cannabis is something that should be a little bit more normalized.
Marshall Lionti works at Paul Offutt’s development director. And he says, yes indeed, they hope to have plants growing in the cultivation center by December. This, Lionti says, is all part of getting society’s attitude towards cannabis where it should be.
(1st Picture) A vehicle advertising Molly’s Joint sits parked alongside Georgetown Road. (2nd Picture) Paul Offutt and Ambrose Jackson share a handshake prior to ribbon cutting. (3rd Picture) The nearby, under construction cultivation center awaits operations, perhaps by December of 2023.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Cannabis has got a bad wrap, you know? But we’re working diligently to, like you said, break down those stigmas; get everybody comfortable with the idea that some people prefer cannabis over alcohol; and we really shouldn’t see it as any different.
Paul Offutt also stated at the ribbon cutting that anything he makes on this enterprise will be donated to Cleveland Clinic, in their continuing battle against cancer.
