Will Flanagan's Fall River Cosmopolitan Cannabis Dispensary

Former Fall River Mayor William A. Flanagan is recovering from stab wounds suffered on Monday afternoon while walking near the business he co-owns with two partners on Hartwell Street.

At approximately 5 p.m. on Monday, the Fall River Police received multiple calls reporting an attack near the 100 block of Hartwell Street, mere steps from Cosmopolitan Dispensary, Inc., the business Flanagan owns with Sunny Aroustamian and Gevorg Saribekyan at 82 Hartwell Street.

Cosmopolitan Dispensary Background and Ownership

The Herald News of Fall River reported that the trio received final approval for their business venture from the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) on June 28, 2023.

The paper reported on a "grand opening" of the Cosmopolitan Dispensary, "a recreational cannabis shop," on Thursday, July 5, 2023. The dispensary occupies the site of the former Salter School.

The company's website advertises such cannabis products as flowers, pre-rolls, vaporizers, concentrates, edibles, tinctures and more.

Taylor Cormier/Townsquare Media

Flanagan’s Vision for the Cannabis Shop

Flanagan told the Herald News he designed the shop.

"I wanted to have a hip setting," he said. "I wanted something that was hip, stands out, pops. I wanted something fun."

The CCC said Flanagan and his partners "executed a Host Community Agreement" with the City of Fall River on July 10, 2020.

"The Commission received a municipal response from the municipality on September 21, 2020, stating the applicant was in compliance with all local ordinances or bylaws," according to the CCC.

The Dispensary’s Community and Diversity Plans

The "Positive Impact Plan" submitted by the applicants included goals of "giving hiring preference to residents of Fall River (15%)" and "hold at least two (2) fundraisers and /or make monetary donations within the City of Fall River annually."

As part of their "Diversity Plan," Flanagan, Aroustamian, and Saribekyan committed to giving "hiring preference to minorities (15%); (women 20%); veterans (10%); people with disabilities (5%); and people identifying as LGBTQ+ (5%)."