After years of sitting vacant, the former Aldi building at Main and Henderson Streets in Galesburg is going to get new life, and just in time for state law legalizing recreational marijuana use as of January first.
The Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development says Milan-based Nature’s Treatment of Illinois has purchased the store, planning to be ready to open their local location New Years Day. In a news release, NTI says it loves the location and wants to be a “strong community partner.”
In addition to being the city’s first cannabis dispensary, KCAP says the owners plan on subdividing the building and leasing it out. One of the expected retailers is a coffee shop.
The Galesburg City Council next week will take a final vote on a measure updating the zoning ordinance for a cannabis business, including establishing a local sales tax.
Meanwhile, the city of Monmouth has rejected allowing cannabis businesses, despite an ongoing concern there about residents leaving town to go to places like Galesburg or Burlington to do their shopping.
KCAP’s Ken Springer will talk more about this development Monday at 5pm on Galesburg’s Evening News on WGIL, WGIL.com, and WGIL on the TuneIn Radio app.
