NILES — A cannabis dispensary has quietly opened the doors to its newest location in Niles.

AYR Wellness representatives say the soft opening, which began Wednesday, serves as a trial run ahead of the store’s grand opening Feb. 28.

“We’re just kind of working out the kinks, welcoming everybody in from the neighborhood,” said Carla Davidson, AYR’s regional retail director for Ohio. “By the grand opening, we’ll have more products, giveaways and swag to really welcome everyone in.”

For now, the store is operating with a limited menu, featuring products like Later Days, Kynd Flower and HZ concentrates. Davidson explained that the selection will grow daily leading up to the grand opening.

The Niles location offers a mix of premium and affordable options, including HZ’s live rosin concentrates and Later Days’ distillate cartridges.

First-time customers will need to complete their purchase inside, but the store also features a convenient option for returning visitors.

“We ask first-time customers to come in-store for their initial transaction, and then any subsequent visit, they can use the drive-thru,” said Matt Truppo, AYR’s vice president of retail for several states, including Ohio.

Payment options include cash, debit (with a $3 fee) and Can Pay, an app that allows customers to link their bank accounts for no-fee instant payments.

“It’s like an app where you can link your checking or savings account,” Davidson said. “You give us a code, and it comes out of your bank account by the next day.”

Davidson said AYR chose the Niles location due to its proximity to the Pennsylvania border.

Davidson and Truppo said the area has a growing demand for cannabis retail options which they expect to fuel “healthy” competition with nearby dispensaries like gLeaf in Warren and a new location on Elm Road. “Competition creates better deals for the consumer,” Davidson said.

Davidson said community involvement is a key focus for AYR. The company plans to allocate 3.65% of its profits to the Niles community and will organize charity drives and volunteer initiatives.

“All of our employees get service hours, kind of like PTO, but they get to volunteer anywhere they choose in the community while we pay them,” Davidson said.

Truppo said the store has adopted a modern, open concept to its layout.

“We’re one of the first dispensaries of the new wave opening in Ohio, so we have more of a concept-driven design,” he said.

Truppo explained the store features 15 point-of-sale stations to efficiently serve both medical and recreational customers.

While it’s too early to project revenue, the soft opening attracted a significant turnout. “It was very exciting to see how many people came out from the local community today,” Truppo said.