John Liskey and his son, Roy Liskey — who co-owns Local Roots Cannabis in Laingsburg with his mother, Ronda — are working to convert the former Rite Aid building at 681 N. Main St. into a cannabis store.
The building has been vacant since Rite Aid closed in September 2024.
In late March, the Liskeys presented a design rendering to the Perry City Council showing the building divided into two storefronts: a 3,000-square-foot space for Local Roots and a 6,000-square-foot space available for lease.
The Liskeys provided another update to council members on Thursday, sharing that they are awaiting multiple inspections and approvals, including a final building inspection expected in the coming weeks.
“The process is still lengthy, because once we get that, then we can submit all the paperwork to the state,” John Liskey said. “The state cannabis agency has not been real busy opening stores like they were a few years ago, so I’m hoping it won’t take them more than a couple of weeks to come out and do the inspection … once we get those approvals, they send us the licenses and we can stock the store. We can’t stock it with anything until then.”
The Liskeys said their goal is to be open by July 1.
What will occupy the remaining space has not been determined, but John Liskey said they are considering the possibility of a fitness center after a local business expressed interest.
“You have to drive all the way to Planet Fitness in Okemos or Owosso,” he said. “We hadn’t thought about that. So we’re going to do some outreach specifically to see if there is any interest in a fitness center.”
At a previous council meeting, Perry Mayor Sue Hammond clarified that the building will be used solely as a retail store, as city ordinance does not permit grow operations.
John and Roy Liskey could not be reached for comment.
Local Roots Cannabis in Laingsburg opened its doors in 2021.
