Shirley, Massachusetts’ sole recreational adult-use retail dispensary opened its doors to the public in March 2023. BoomX, a local Massachusetts family business co-founded and led by COO Kristin Bowles, followed the family tradition of building a strong foundation for an inclusive cannabis experience.

Kristin partners with her two brothers, Mike and Anthony Cardillo, and her father, Tony Cardillo. The family has owned and operated a construction company, A. Cardillo and Sons, Inc., for 75 years, and the name, BoomX, pays homage to this history and Kristin’s grandfather, fondly known as Red. The dispensary had its soft opening on March 1 and is co-located with a provisionally licensed tier-3 cultivation space. BoomX has also begun working on a second retail location in Waltham.

This six-year journey began with purchasing the property in 2016, followed by the Host Community Agreement and licensing process in 2019. The opening of their flagship store features local brands, including Heirloom Collective, Ocean Breeze, Good Chemistry, Treeworks, Fernway, River Run Gardens, ComCann, Wellman Farm, Yanma (Blackstone Valley Naturals), and more.

BoomX is also inspired by the family in another way. Kristin’s son was born profoundly deaf, so the staff receives training in American Sign Language for hearing-impaired clientele from Matt Maxey of Deafinitely Dope and Framingham’s Learning Center for the Deaf. — MF