Catherine White, executive director of the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce, opened the ceremony for the Cannabis Reserve on Oct. 12, 2025, welcoming officials and community members to the ribbon-cutting for the new adult-use dispensary in New Rochelle.

The Cannabis Reserve is, according to speakers at the event, the second legal adult-use dispensary in the city of New Rochelle, the largest dispensary in Westchester County and the only one in New York state with a certified kosher section. Mayor Yadira Ramos Herbert said she was impressed by the owners’ ties to the neighborhood and their security measures and said the business will contribute to city tax revenue as the city approaches budget season.

"I was privileged to get a tour of the facility and really learn more about his background and their vision and candidly how much work it took to get here with all of the different regulations," Mayor Yadira Ramos Herbert said. "I left so impressed by their connections to our community, by the thoughtfulness in which the space was designed. It really is a pretty space, but also the efforts they were taking to ensure security for the community."

Owner Jay Gutierrez, who said he is a service-connected disabled veteran of the U.S. Navy, told attendees the dispensary is built on a mission of safety, testing and local cultivation and described the opening as a moment of "pride, perseverance, and community." Gutierrez said the motto that guided him was Victoria perseverentum venit—"through perseverance comes victory."

Martha Lopez, who was representing Westchester County at the event, conveyed support from the county executive and encouraged the business to use county resources for women- and minority-owned businesses. "Spring greetings from the county executive Ken Jenkins, and it is a very exciting day," Lopez said.

Andrew Feigenbaum of the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce also offered brief remarks before the ribbon-cutting. "On behalf of, Chamber of Commerce, New Rochelle welcomes you, and thank you you for making New Rochelle a happier place," Feigenbaum said.

The ceremony concluded with a ribbon cutting. Organizers and officials noted the business will be part of the city's economic activity going into budget discussions, and attendees invited residents to learn more about the store and its operations.