Verano, a vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis company, opened two new Illinois adult-use only Zen Leaf dispensaries within the past two weeks.

Today, Dec. 29, Zen Leaf Naperville opened at 1516 N. Naper Blvd. at the main intersection of the suburb’s resurgent Ogden Avenue retail corridor and less than a half-mile from the Interstate 88 interchange.

Zen Leaf Naperville is open from 9 AM to 9 PM Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 10 PM Friday and Saturday, and 10 AM to 6 PM on Sunday.

Naperville Mayor Chirico makes remarks before Zen Leaf official ribbon cutting ceremony.

Dec. 11, Zen Leaf Charleston dispensary opened at 909 Lincoln Ave. in the former Family Video building in Charleston.

Zen Leaf Charleston is open 9 AM to 9 PM Monday to Thursday, 9 AM to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday, and 10 AM to 6 PM on Sunday.

Zen Leaf Charleston image

These are the third and fourth Zen Leaf dispensaries dispensary to open in Illinois, with additional locations currently under construction.

“Naperville is a nationally renowned market for top retailers of every industry,” said George Archos, founder, chairman and CEO of both Verano and Zen Leaf. “We’re proud to open a flagship regional adult-use dispensary in this premier and award-winning community. Through the leadership of Mayor Chirico and the city council, the city is poised to realize the many benefits the fast-growing cannabis industry provides. The city will enjoy the economic and fiscal benefits, and adults will gain safe, convenient access to high-quality, regulated cannabis products at Zen Leaf’s unique and customer-focused dispensary.”

Zen Leaf Naperville is the first adult-use only dispensary in Naperville, and second overall, to open in the city after the city council passed an opt-in ordinance in August 2020.

“I always believed that with responsible regulation Naperville would attract the best of the industry, and the team at Zen Leaf kept their promise and has opened a distinctive, first-class dispensary in our community,” said Naperville Mayor Chirico. “Despite the pandemic and economic uncertainty, Zen Leaf is just one of several prominent businesses opening new retail destinations at this Ogden Avenue retail gateway, further elevating its prominence as a thriving, regional retail destination.”

The new dispensaries offer a comprehensive menu of cannabis products including concentrates, edibles, vaporizers, and flower. Customers must be 21 or older to enter the store or purchase product. Zen Leaf dispensaries have a mandatory mask policy in effect.

“Zen Leaf prides itself on providing safe, legal access to the health, wellness and happiness cannabis provides, and our Charleston dispensary will provide this portion of the state with access to high-quality, regulated cannabis products,” said Archos. “We’re grateful that Charleston provided an opportunity for us to invest, create jobs, and generate new tax revenue that can be reinvested in the community.”