Building a Cannabis Business in Brooklyn: The Story Behind Kaya Bliss
Behind every successful neighborhood business is a story of ambition, persistence, and the people who helped bring an idea to life. For Kaya Bliss Dispensary, that story began with two Brooklyn entrepreneurs who envisioned a different kind of cannabis retail experience.
Founded by Edgar Kleydman and Giorgio Matesi, Kaya Bliss emerged during a transformative period for New York’s legal cannabis industry.
As the state worked to establish its adult-use cannabis marketplace, entrepreneurs encountered opportunities to develop new businesses alongside considerable regulatory and operational challenges.
Kaya Bliss entered that environment with a vision centered on approachable service, customer education, and meaningful connections with Brooklyn communities.
The company’s journey began in Bay Ridge, where it opened the neighborhood’s first licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary in January 2025.
Since then, Kaya Bliss has expanded into Brooklyn Heights and announced plans for additional locations in Kensington and Brighton Beach.
Its growth reflects both the opportunities available in New York’s developing cannabis industry and the determination required to establish a business in a highly regulated market.
The Entrepreneurs Behind Kaya Bliss
Kaya Bliss was founded by Edgar Kleydman and Giorgio Matesi, who shared a connection to Brooklyn and an interest in building a cannabis business that reflected their approach to customer service.
The founders recognized that the legalization of adult-use cannabis created an opportunity to introduce a new retail experience to neighborhoods that had not previously been served by licensed dispensaries.
However, they also understood that establishing a cannabis business would involve challenges beyond those faced by many traditional retailers.
New York’s cannabis market was still developing, and businesses needed to navigate licensing requirements, location considerations, and a changing regulatory environment.
For Kaya Bliss, the founders’ commitment to their vision became an important part of the company’s early development.
Edgar Kleydman’s Perspective on Cannabis Entrepreneurship
In an August 2026 interview published as part of the High Five series, Kaya Bliss co-founder Edgar Kleydman discussed the challenges and opportunities facing cannabis retailers in New York.
The conversation addressed topics including the state’s regulatory environment, real estate considerations, and the potential for continued industry growth.
These issues are particularly relevant to entrepreneurs entering a market where business operations are closely connected to state licensing and compliance requirements.
For cannabis retailers, finding a suitable property is only one part of establishing a storefront.
The location must also meet applicable regulatory requirements, and the business must be prepared to operate within a framework that differs from many other retail industries.
Kleydman’s perspective reflects the importance of preparation, adaptability, and long-term planning in cannabis entrepreneurship.
Why New York’s Cannabis Industry Presents Unique Challenges
New York’s adult-use cannabis market has created opportunities for licensed businesses, but its development has also involved significant complications.
Regulatory changes, legal disputes, and licensing delays have affected entrepreneurs throughout the state.
For prospective dispensary owners, these issues can influence nearly every stage of business development.
Navigating Cannabis Licensing
Operating a licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary requires authorization through New York’s regulatory system.
Businesses must comply with applicable rules established by the Office of Cannabis Management.
These requirements address matters such as retail operations, security, product sourcing, labeling, and age verification.
For entrepreneurs, understanding these responsibilities is essential before opening.
Compliance also remains an ongoing obligation after a store begins operating.
Licensed businesses must continue following applicable regulations as the marketplace evolves.
Finding the Right Retail Location
Real estate is another major consideration for cannabis entrepreneurs.
A potential storefront must be evaluated for more than its visibility or customer traffic.
Business owners must also consider applicable location restrictions, regulatory requirements, lease terms, and the surrounding neighborhood.
In New York City, where commercial real estate can be competitive, identifying an appropriate location may require considerable time and planning.
Kaya Bliss’s experiences in Bay Ridge and Brooklyn Heights illustrate how location decisions can become part of a broader community discussion.
The company’s founders needed to consider not only business operations but also how each proposed dispensary would fit into its surroundings.
Responding to Community Concerns
Cannabis retail remains a relatively new business category in many New York neighborhoods.
Some residents support licensed dispensaries as an alternative to unregulated sellers.
Others have questions about safety, neighborhood character, and the responsibilities of cannabis businesses.
These concerns became part of Kaya Bliss’s early story in Bay Ridge.
The company’s proposed opening generated public attention, but the founders continued pursuing their plans.
Their experience demonstrates the importance of communication and persistence when introducing a new type of business to an established community.
Opening the First Kaya Bliss Dispensary in Bay Ridge
The company’s first major milestone came on January 7, 2025, when Kaya Bliss opened at 8412 Third Avenue in Bay Ridge.
The location became the neighborhood’s first licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary.
For Kleydman and Matesi, the opening represented the culmination of a lengthy effort to establish their business.
It also created an opportunity to demonstrate the customer experience they had envisioned.
Kaya Bliss sought to distinguish itself through a welcoming atmosphere, knowledgeable employees, and a focus on helping customers understand the products available through the legal marketplace.
Creating a Neighborhood-Oriented Business
Bay Ridge is known for its established commercial corridors and strong local identity.
Opening a dispensary in this environment required Kaya Bliss to think about its relationship with the surrounding community.
The company emphasized becoming a positive addition to the neighborhood rather than simply operating as another retail storefront.
That approach helped shape the brand’s identity.
From customer interactions to community involvement, Kaya Bliss sought to establish a business that residents could become familiar with over time.
The Role of Customer Education in Cannabis Retail
One of the defining characteristics of the Kaya Bliss brand is its emphasis on making cannabis shopping more approachable.
The legal cannabis marketplace includes numerous product categories, brands, and formats.
For consumers, comparing these options can be complicated, particularly when products contain different amounts of THC or have different methods of consumption.
Helping Customers Understand Their Options
A knowledgeable dispensary team can explain general differences between cannabis product categories and help customers review labeling information.
For example, cannabis flower, pre-rolls, edibles, and tinctures differ in how they are used.
Edibles can take longer to produce noticeable effects, making serving-size awareness especially important.
Other products may involve different considerations related to potency, ingredients, or equipment.
Kaya Bliss’s approach emphasizes providing information that supports responsible purchasing decisions.
The goal is to make customers feel comfortable asking questions while encouraging them to follow product labels and applicable safety guidance.
Building Long-Term Customer Relationships
Customer service is important in any retail industry, but it can be especially meaningful in a developing marketplace.
Adults who are unfamiliar with licensed dispensaries may appreciate clear explanations and a comfortable shopping environment.
Returning customers may value consistency, product knowledge, and the ability to browse available selections without feeling rushed.
By focusing on these experiences, Kaya Bliss aims to establish relationships that extend beyond individual transactions.
Growing From Bay Ridge Into Brooklyn Heights
Following its original opening, Kaya Bliss continued developing its presence in Brooklyn.
The company established another dispensary at 64 Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights.
The expansion introduced the brand to a neighborhood known for historic architecture and an active preservation community.
As with the Bay Ridge opening, the proposed location attracted public discussion.
Local reporting documented concerns about the property, the planned business, and elements of its exterior appearance.
These issues reflected the complexities of establishing modern retail operations within a historically significant neighborhood.
For Kaya Bliss, the Brooklyn Heights location represented an opportunity to apply its customer-service approach in a different environment.
It also demonstrated the company’s willingness to pursue growth while navigating location-specific challenges.
Expanding Into Kensington and Brighton Beach
In 2026, Kaya Bliss announced plans for two additional Brooklyn dispensaries.
The proposed locations are situated at 205 Church Avenue in Kensington and 301 Brighton Beach Avenue in Brighton Beach.
These announcements marked another stage in the company’s development.
Rather than concentrating exclusively on its original neighborhood, Kaya Bliss began extending its presence into additional parts of Brooklyn.
Serving Different Brooklyn Communities
Each Brooklyn neighborhood has its own characteristics, commercial activity, and customer base.
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Heights, Kensington, and Brighton Beach are geographically and culturally distinct.
For a growing retail brand, serving these areas requires an understanding of local expectations.
Kaya Bliss’s expansion reflects an effort to combine a consistent brand identity with neighborhood-oriented retail locations.
The company’s established stores provide a foundation for that approach, while the announced locations represent opportunities for future growth.
Maintaining Consistency as the Business Grows
Expanding a business introduces new responsibilities.
Additional locations require operational planning, staffing, inventory management, regulatory compliance, and consistent customer service.
For Kaya Bliss, maintaining its original emphasis on hospitality and product education will be important as the brand develops.
The company’s growth strategy reflects the challenge faced by many expanding retailers: reaching new customers without losing the qualities that helped establish the business.
Kaya Bliss and the Brooklyn Community
Community involvement has been part of the Kaya Bliss story since its earliest days.
The company has emphasized its interest in developing positive relationships with the neighborhoods surrounding its stores.
Its public-facing activities have included anniversary celebrations and participation in local community initiatives.
In July 2026, local coverage highlighted a Bay Ridge Summer Stroll event that brought thousands of visitors together for seasonal activities.
Events such as Summer Stroll demonstrate the importance of neighborhood commercial districts as gathering places.
For businesses operating in Brooklyn, these activities create opportunities to engage with residents beyond everyday retail transactions.
Why Community Engagement Matters
A neighborhood business becomes part of a larger environment that includes residents, neighboring merchants, local organizations, and visitors.
Maintaining positive relationships requires consistent attention to that environment.
For licensed cannabis retailers, community engagement can also help address questions about the industry.
Responsible operations, transparent communication, and a professional customer experience all contribute to how a business is perceived.
Kaya Bliss’s neighborhood-focused identity reflects the importance of these relationships.
The Future of Cannabis Entrepreneurship in New York
The legal cannabis industry continues to evolve as New York develops its regulated marketplace.
For entrepreneurs, this creates both opportunities and responsibilities.
New businesses must be prepared to navigate regulatory requirements while responding to changing consumer expectations.
Retailers also need to distinguish themselves through service, product knowledge, and the quality of the shopping experience.
Kaya Bliss’s development illustrates how these factors can influence a company’s growth.
From the challenges surrounding its original Bay Ridge opening to its expansion across Brooklyn, the business has operated in an environment requiring persistence and adaptability.
The company’s experience also highlights the role of local entrepreneurship in shaping the legal cannabis marketplace.
Independent operators can bring different perspectives to retail design, customer education, and neighborhood engagement.
As the industry matures, those qualities may become increasingly important.
A Brooklyn Business Built Around a Long-Term Vision
Kaya Bliss began with a vision shared by two entrepreneurs who wanted to establish a welcoming cannabis dispensary in Brooklyn.
That vision became a reality with the opening of the Bay Ridge location in January 2025.
The company subsequently expanded into Brooklyn Heights and announced plans to serve Kensington and Brighton Beach.
Along the way, Kaya Bliss encountered challenges involving licensing, real estate, community concerns, and the complexities of operating in a developing industry.
Its story reflects the determination required to build a regulated retail business while maintaining a commitment to customer service.
Today, Kaya Bliss continues to focus on creating approachable cannabis shopping experiences for adults aged 21 and older.
Customers can visit its established Bay Ridge and Brooklyn Heights dispensaries or explore current product selections through the company’s website.
As Kaya Bliss continues growing, its Brooklyn roots remain central to its identity.
What began as a single neighborhood dispensary has developed into a broader vision for cannabis retail built around education, hospitality, and connections with the communities it serves.
