BLKBRN Dispensary

[image: BLKBRN Dispensary Interior Design]
Designed for Growth

How smart retail design shapes flow, experience, and interaction.
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Well before *BLKBRN Dispensary* opened its doors in New Jersey less than
six months ago, co-founder Jeff Jacobson knew how he wanted the space to
feel: clean, high-contrast, and designed for connection.

“I’ve been in cannabis retail since 2017, and my background is in real
estate development,” he said. “So, I’ve been comfortable working with
architects and designers for years. For BLKBRN, we had the general layout
already, but Display Dispensary took it to the next level.”

According to Jacobson, partnering with the fixtures-and-fabrication company
was crucial in bringing his concept to life. BLKBRN needed a solution that
blended efficiency with personality—not just stock fixtures dropped into a
floor plan, but an intentional customer experience that could evolve with
the ever-changing market.

“They were extremely knowledgeable about our business, which made the
process easy,” Jacobson said. “We combined some of their available stock
units with custom pieces, colors, and finishes to hit every angle of our
intended design.”

Business Development Executive Georgia Peterman said Jacobson and his team
presented the Display Dispensary crew with several intriguing
challenges—just the kind of job they love. “When Jeff came to us, he had a
loose concept and a tight deadline,” she said. “Our design team took his
floor plan and created a rendering that matched his vision while solving
practical challenges like customer flow and security concerns.”
[image: BLKBRN Loby]

The firm’s in-house design team, led by Design Director Matt Comiskey,
worked closely with BLKBRN to bring the concept to life. “When dispensary
owners send us their floor plans, we start by reviewing the project
together and identifying which of our proven, in-stock components can be
used as a foundation,” he said. “From there, we layer in custom elements
like counters and cabinetry to create a look that’s unique to the client
but still scalable and secure. Our scope on this project included the floor
plan layout and a detailed rendering deck, which gave Jeff’s team a clear
sense of how the space would function and feel.”

Once the framework was established, Comiskey handed the project to designer
JoPari Dyer, who took the lead on translating the vision into a seamless
customer experience. “For BLKBRN, we created a flow that feels intuitive
and makes it easy for budtenders to work efficiently while customers
explore the shop,” she said.

The resulting space balances aesthetics with function. Because New Jersey
regulations do not allow products to be accessible to customers on the
sales floor, BLKBRN operates under a fulfillment-style model with most
inventory kept in the back. Lockable drawers in the floor units allow
fast-moving products to be stored up front where they’re easy for staff to
access. Custom cabinetry and counters give the shop a unique, elevated
feel, while durable stock components ensure scalability and
cost-efficiency.

Jacobson described the design with an analogy borrowed from his time
working for Disney. “This landscape architect at the business used to
design where sidewalks would go for commercial projects, but people would
just end up walking across the grass and wearing it down,” he said. “One
day, he decided he wasn’t going to put the sidewalks in first; he’d see
where people tended to walk and then put them in. We applied that thinking
to the dispensary. With so many market-driven changes, we wanted
flexibility to adjust down the line.”

So, flexibility was built in from the start. The displays and glass
showcases were designed to be refreshed frequently, keeping the environment
lively by updating featured accessories, highlighting new brands, and
showcasing local partnerships. Integrated TV screens rotate menus and
promotions. The reception area can accommodate a walk-up pickup window in
the future to stay on-trend with a feature that has proved popular among
customers who prefer to order online and grab their products on the go.

Although utility and practicality governed the design process, the
centerpiece of the space is far from utilitarian: A sculptural wooden tree
winds upward from the floor and wraps into the ceiling. The tree is more
than décor; it’s a symbol of BLKBRN’s roots. “Two of our founding partners
went to Howard University, where there’s a famous building called the
Blackburn Center,” Jacobson said. “Out front is this tree that was a real
gathering place, sort of like a melting pot for the whole community.
Everyone would hang out there, and we wanted to bring that same feeling
here; make this a space where anyone from any walk of life can feel
welcome.”
[image: BLKBRN Loby]

Building around the tree challenged the Display Dispensary team to engineer
fixtures and create sightlines that complemented the installation without
disrupting customer flow. But with more than 100 years of retail design
expertise behind them, the team had a nearly limitless well of creativity
and insight to draw from as it accomplished the project’s goals on time and
within budget.

For Display Dispensary, BLKBRN was an ideal project to showcase the
company’s specialty: tailoring a mix of proven, in-stock solutions with
custom fabrication to meet a client’s unique vision on a tight deadline.

“They came to us with a blank slate and a two-month window,” Peterman said.
“We worked hand-in-hand with their team from floor plan to final install,
guiding the process, balancing the budget, and making sure everything
arrived together so the store could open on time.

“We love projects like this,” she added. “They let us flex both sides of
our offerings: our deep catalog of proven components and our ability to
deliver custom elements quickly.”

The finished product is exactly what Jacobson envisioned: a modern-day
gathering spot that nods to history while being ready for the future.
[image: Preloader image]
[image: Sales counter with display case and green wall of cannabis products
at BLKBRN dispensary in New Jersey.]
[image: Checkout area and product display wall inside BLKBRN dispensary
featuring clean lines and modular counter units.]
[image: Interior of BLKBRN dispensary featuring sculptural wooden tree
centerpiece and custom front counter displays.]
[image: Glass bongs, vape products, and branded packaging displayed on
minimalist shelving inside BLKBRN dispensary]
BLKBRN

176 Woodbridge Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904
blkbrndispensary.com/
Display Dispensary

displaydispensary.com
(877) 734-7752