Throggs Neck residents are bracing as a new cannabis dispensary, Victory Dispensary, moves toward an East Tremont Avenue location, stirring up worries about kids, crime and property values. Neighbors say the shop would sit near the corner of East Tremont and Philip Avenue and would put a second licensed cannabis store just a block from the first. "I feel very disturbed about it," longtime resident Fernando Cofresi told local reporters, adding that he fears he might be forced to sell his house if the block changes.
As reported by News 12 Bronx, Victory's owners told community members the store is aiming to open before July and that on-site consumption would not be permitted. The report notes neighbors believe at least four schools sit within a half-mile of the proposed site and that students often take the bus to the corner and gather at the McDonald's across the street. Some residents warned that a second legal shop so close to an existing outlet could drag down home values and bring unwanted foot traffic.
Community board signs off despite split vote
Bronx Community Board 10 formally recommended approval of the application on May 1, 2025 for a retail license at 3653 East Tremont Avenue, according to Bronx Community Board 10 minutes. The public record shows applicants Francisco Gomez and Ali Zindani presented plans that include ID scanning at the door, armed security on duty during operating hours and an initial schedule of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. The minutes also record that the building at 3653 East Tremont has outstanding DOB and ECB violations that the owner must cure before the dispensary will commit to opening.
State rules that matter
At the state level, dispensary siting is governed by the Office of Cannabis Management, which has clarified that retail locations must be at least 500 feet from a school's property line. The OCM's 2025 proximity correction changed how those distances are measured and left many communities and applicants reviewing maps to confirm compliance. According to the Office of Cannabis Management, the new measurement is a straight-line check from a dispensary's entrance to the nearest school property boundary.
Promises, concerns and a narrow vote
Owners told the board they would hire locally, help authorities identify illegal smoke shops and add security measures, details that were highlighted in local coverage. News 12 Bronx reported Victory said it intends to hire roughly 10–15 people from Throggs Neck, but some neighbors questioned whether those promises would offset the presence of unlicensed sellers. The Community Board voted 13–10 to recommend approval, underlining how divided neighborhood opinion has become.
What's next
Community Board recommendations are advisory; final licensing and site inspections are handled by, according to the Office of Cannabis Management, the state agency that enforces proximity and licensing rules. If the owners cure outstanding violations and secure OCM sign-off, the shop could still open this summer; otherwise the process may stall and opponents may escalate complaints to the agency or local enforcement. For now, residents say they will keep attending hearings and monitoring the corner for any signs of change.
