Honeysuckle is proud to present “Asians Across The Supply Chain: Profiles In AANHPI Cannabis,” in partnership with Dutchie! Through this final week of AANHPI Month, we will be introducing you to cannabis industry stakeholders who are building the foundation for this evolving space and pioneering the brands that serve the ecosystem as a whole. These professionals come from all across the cannabis supply chain, proving that each sector functions in tandem to build an inclusive, expansive and growing industry.
Meet Doo Kim, co-founder and General Manager of New York licensed retailer Mighty Lucky.
What Is Mighty Lucky?
Located at 259 Bowery in Manhattan, Mighty Lucky is a mom-and-pop shop dispensary owned by partners Beau Allulli and Doo Kim. Beyond the usual offerings of a cannabis store, they provide visitors with a vintage vibe befitting the neighborhood and include a special area called “Doobie’s Buds,” a curation of non-cannabis houseplants, home goods, and cute one-of-a-kind items.
Licensed through the state’s Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD) program, Allulli was a longtime figure in the legacy market before transitioning to the legal space. He and Kim both have backgrounds in the arts and previously ran a photography studio together. Their creative prowess is evident in Mighty Lucky’s welcoming bohemian atmosphere.
Join Mighty Lucky For A Memorial Day Barbecue In New York City
In an ode to our country’s veterans, come celebrate Memorial Day with Mighty Lucky! On Monday, May 27th, Allulli and Kim will be serving up a neighborhood barbecue from 1-7PM. Feast on burgers and bratwursts, mingle with new friends, and see a sweet puppy (that would be Mighty Lucky’s mascot Rocky, of course). This event is FREE to attend, but we highly recommend RSVPing in advance. (Click here to get your tickets now.)
Who Is Mighty Lucky Co-founder Doo Kim?
A Teaneck, New Jersey native, Doo Kim grew up in what she describes as “a very strict-cultured Korean household.” But at least she was born wearing multiple hats. Her parents used to have to hide the clocks in the house because she was always taking them apart and attempting to put them back together. She was raised to work for her own success, which started at the young age of 14, babysitting and working at the Limited Too at the mall.
After graduating from art school, Kim went on to work in digital ad tech within the programmatic space, but then made a drastic career change to hospitality management, where she ran the membership team for the renowned club Soho House in the New York region.
Doo’s dream was to ultimately run her own business, so it felt like destiny when she fell into a partnership of yet another drastic career change into cannabis - which coincidentally turned into a labor of love when she rekindled an old friendship with her now-business partner and co-founder of Mighty Lucky, Beau Allulli. Partners in business and in life, they are navigating the highs and lows of managing a retail store and loving every second of it.
What Is Doo Kim’s Connection To Her Heritage?
Born into immigrant parents who still hold Korean citizenship and a father who worked for a Korean company his entire career, Kim remembers that there was always a strict dinner time of 6:30PM and a fruit plate for dessert. Despite growing up in the states, Korean heritage was a daily ritual and practice within the Kim household. Doo’s mom still makes her own Kimchee [and insists on the traditional South Korean spelling of the dish]! Doo grew up speaking both Korean and English and is more comfortable eating with chopsticks than with a fork.
Doo Kim On The Asian Community And Entry Into The Cannabis Industry
HONEYSUCKLE MAGAZINE: What advice do you have for Asians looking to enter the cannabis industry?
DOO KIM: Most importantly, recognizing that there is a large existing community ready to welcome you. And understanding that our culture still has a [stigmatized] perception more than most about marijuana, but there is support for people in this community who recognize the cultural struggles on recreational use of cannabis. Lastly, there are so many growth opportunities, especially in New York and as the future of cannabis will only continue to expand. This is an ever-growing market and there’s a real need to fill many positions as more licensed dispensaries open up. And don’t be shy about it! We are ready to receive you with open arms.
The stigma is still real. What is something you wish the Asian community knew about the cannabis industry?
That there is a home for everybody, regardless of what color your skin, or heritage is. But also that there is no shame in the name of cannabis. We are all one community that is striving for positive, kind, and fun experiences. And lastly, the addition of cannabis within anybody’s lifestyle is that there are so many wonderful benefits to it; both recreationally and medically.
Mighty Lucky hosts its Memorial Day BBQ on Monday, May 27, 2024, 1-7PM at the store on 259 Bowery in New York City. Tickets are FREE, but RSVPs are recommended. Click here to reserve through Eventbrite. For more information about Mighty Lucky, visit mighty-lucky.com.
(C) Sam C. Long / Honeysuckle Media, Inc. @tissuekulture
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Featured image: Doo Kim (C) Mighty Lucky
