While Peekskill officials consider new zoning rules that could limit cannabis dispensaries in residential neighborhoods, one new shop is preparing to open on Main Street.
Peek Buds, operated by NYSafe 420 LLC, is renovating the ground floor of 1719 Main Street — a site formerly occupied by Beer World and still home to a bottle redemption center — into Peekskill’s third cannabis dispensary. The business, led by Steven Schaaff, is aiming for a late September opening.
The Peekskill Herald previously reported that the applicant behind the project was Richard Burton. However, Burton is no longer involved, and Schaaff has since taken over with his company, NYSafe 420.
Schaaff has been provisionally approved for a CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) license from the state. His license is expected to be finalized once the store secures a certificate of occupancy from the Peekskill Building Department and final approval from the Office of Cannabis Management.
“The construction has begun,” Schaaff told the Herald. “Opening date should be around the end of September if all goes well, possibly before.”
According to Schaaff, the project has faced delays, including separating the electricity for the redemption center from the dispensary. Still, the project is moving forward.
Peek Buds received a special permit from Peekskill’s Planning Commission in November 2024. At that meeting, several commission members raised concerns about proposed plans to eliminate all the windows on the property. In response to the feedback, Schaaff now says the design will keep the existing windows.
“The windows are staying as they are now from what I was told by the builder. So there will be some natural daylight in the store, and the windows are pretty high up the wall for the proper privacy,” he said.
For Schaaff, the decision to enter the cannabis industry is deeply personal. “It’s one hundred percent about passion.”
Schaaff began using cannabis during college to manage symptoms of ADHD and says it has had a profound impact on his life. “This plant made a real difference in my life, and I’m honored to bring that difference to others,” he said.
At Peek Buds, Schaaff says the focus will be on customer service and fair pricing, with his “personal touch” helping to set the business apart from other dispensaries in town.
A first-time business owner, Schaaff, 49, was born and raised in Orange County. He describes himself as a “Hudson Valley mountain kid.” He and his wife of 21 years have raised two children in Goshen.
Family is central to Schaaff’s plans. His son, Derek, plans to work at Peek Buds full time after college and eventually co-run the store with him. While Schaaff is the majority owner, he says he is working with “very experienced business partners” to ensure a smooth launch.
“We feel strongly we can deliver exactly what Peekskill prefers at great prices,” Schaaff said. “So please come on over to Peeks Buds — where customer satisfaction matters.”
