Royalty Group, LLC is vying for the community’s approval to open a cannabis retail store at 31-39 Stuart Street, the former location of Jacob Wirth Co. Restaurant. In a virtual meeting, owner and CEO Andrea Pearce presented her plans to Chinatown residents.

This neighborhood outreach is required before Pearce can seek approval for her application from the Boston Cannabis Board.

Participants expressed their concerns about how a cannabis store could influence local youth and harm the community at large.

“We believe your establishment would really damage our quality of life and exacerbate the problems we already have in the community,” said Joyce Chen, who works in Chinatown. “We built our roots here. We are proud to be in the community and we want you to respect our home.”

City Councilor Ed Flynn was present and voiced his stance. “My constituents have made it perfectly clear to me that they’re against this proposal and, as their elected official, I’m against this proposal,” Flynn said. 31-39 Stuart Street is in the Theatre District, bordering Chinatown. The proposed store, named Tree Star, would sell vape cartridges, edibles, creams, and cannabis flower.

Jacob Wirth Restaurant opened there in 1886 and was the second-oldest continually operating restaurant in Boston until it closed in 2018. Pearce explained her plans to preserve historical features in construction, as well as create a timeline wall of the building’s history.

Pearce was drawn to 31-39 for its proximity to hotels, bars and nightclubs that are licensed and regulated with the City and State. Several residents questioned the project’s motives. “I think we need to look at if any racial discrimination is involved,” said a resident who identified himself as Rong. “In Chinatown, you know lots of people have language barriers, so we don’t have people to lobby, to oppose this like other people do in English.”

According to Royalty Group’s presentation, 61% of the neighborhood had voted in favor of cannabis. Upon further questioning, Pearce revealed the statistic was taken from a ballot question asked during the 2016 election.

“I voted in favor of marijuana legalization, but not to place stores in proximity to families and schools,” Richard Chang, Head of School at Josiah Quincy, commented in the chat box.“I can’t afford to have even one of my students get tripped up by marijuana each year.” Royalty Group also outlined plans to give $25,000 annually back to organizations located in areas that are “disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs,” as determined by the Cannabis Control Commission. So far, Royalty plans to direct donations to the Wang/Boch Center and Boston Asian Youth Essential Services, along with Masonic Temple. Before opening shop, Royalty Group must gain approval from the Zoning Board of Appeal and the state Cannabis Control Commission. Comments on Royalty’s proposal can be submitted to the Boston Cannabis Board at cannabisboard@boston.gov.