A year after opening HempWorks at The Shoppes of Averil Place, Mary Frances Smith has reopened her store – this time on East Main Street. Her CBD oil products are now available for purchase at the shop’s new home in the Gregis Insurance Agency Building, across Willis Avenue from T&L Hotdog.

 

On Oct. 22, The Shoppes of Averil Place erupted in flames, totaling the building on South Virginia Avenue which housed Artworks, HempWorks and Provence Market. It is yet to be determined if a new building will be constructed, so in the meantime Smith decided to find a temporary home for her business.

 

The push to reopen was to accommodate her customers.

 

“It’s a good quality oil and my customers trust it,” Smith said.

 

Smith, a former educator and assistant principal at Bridgeport High School, said she was inspired to open the business in 2018 after friends recommended that she try cannabidiol – a compound found in hemp plants - to alleviate her own aches and pains. After much researching, she decided to try products by HempMeds out of Poway, California.

 

“They’ve been in business now for about nine years and they produce the only CBD oil listed in the Physicians Desk Reference as a dietary supplement,” Smith said. “After using the products for a couple months, I didn’t hurt anymore.”

 

When she retired from BHS, she decided to share the products with the community by opening her own small business.

 

After the fire, Smith said she made plans to relocate in the DePolo Building on West Main Street/Route 50. Though that didn’t pan out, Tim Gregis – through his insurance business – heard Smith was needing a storefront and offered the space he had previously used as his bike shop. He wasn’t really looking to rent it out, but said he had a soft spot for Francis, who was very supportive of him at Bridgeport High School.

“The bike shop space had been vacant for about a year and a half and they thought they might move their offices in there,” Smith said. “It was all cleared out and painted and the color scheme even matched the rugs I had bought. It’s just crazy how it happened.”

 

At the new location, Smith carries HempMeds oils and tinctures, gummies and energy chews, as well as products by the company’s subsidiaries Dixey Botanicals and HempPets and its personal care line of CBD-infused shampoos, conditioners, body wash and lotion.

“We also carry their health care line including immune support, sleep support and digestive aid,” Smith said.

 

Smith lost all products in the fire. They were not insured as she had not found anyone to write an insurance policy on the items which could contain a small amount of THC. Through his business, Gregis has been able to make that happen.

 

“It’s kind of neat,” Smith said. “You help these kids out in school and then they turn around and help you.”

 

Another plus about her new location is that she’s just a few doors down from the soon-to-open Artworks.

 

“So, we still have out little connection,” Smith said.

 

She and Artworks owner Lotus MacDowell will promote each other’s businesses and provide incentives for customers to visit the other store while they are in the area.

 

HempWorks is open 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday or customers can make an appointment by calling 304-694-2472.

 

Visit the HempWorks Web site HERE.

 

Editor's Note: Smith is pictured above with a customer, as well as her granddaughter Emily who accompanies her on the job.