“Terp Bros is the most premier dispensary in New York City.” says Jeremy Rivera, standing inside the brightly lit storefront that has quickly become a community Astoria cornerstone.

He’s not wrong—Terp Bros is currently ranked the number one dispensary in Queens, and it’s easy to see why. From day one, Rivera has approached the business with an open heart and an open door, building trust and visibility in a way few others have.

“When we came to the area, we spoke to the neighboring businesses and we introduced ourselves,” he explains. “We kept an open door policy while we were in build out so that people in the community could stop by and ask us questions.”

That transparency was key. Rivera and his team didn’t just drop into the neighborhood—they became part of it. “People from the community were able to stop by, get to know the owners, which is a really big thing. We are here on a daily basis. So we wanted them to know our faces and meet who we were, who we are as people.”

It worked. “I'd say 75% are returning [customers], 75% are people who are from this area,” Rivera notes. “We’re really able to serve our community directly.”

And Jeremy Rivera is exactly who New York designed the CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) program for. As someone personally impacted by cannabis criminalization—arrested for a cannabis charge in 2016 and formerly incarcerated—he qualified under the state’s effort to prioritize people who had paid the price for prohibition. But what truly made him stand out was the life he built after.

“The state created a program that was prioritizing people who had cannabis convictions, who came from certain communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs,” Rivera says. “But also… people who had those things and had a business background, had two years of positive income from an LLC or a C corp, S corp, sole proprietorship… I literally fit my hand, fit directly into the glove perfectly.”

With that opportunity came responsibility—and Rivera delivered. Terp Bros now sits proudly on Ditmars Boulevard, surrounded by locally owned bars, restaurants, pizzerias, and boutiques—many of which have welcomed Rivera and his team with open arms. “All of our neighbors were happy to bring us into this block… A lot of our business owners around here are cannabis consumers. The ones that weren’t were still really open to the conversation.”

For Rivera, who grew up in Queens and considers the borough home, that support means everything. “I love Queens. Queens the best borough. There's no borough better than Queens.”

That deep sense of place shows up in every decision Terp Bros makes—from the brands on the menu to the music playing inside. “We really pay attention to the products we’re bringing in—the quality of the products, the story behind the products and the brands themselves,” he says. “We also keep our menu eligible for anybody in any financial bracket to buy… People in each category can afford to buy something of quality.”

More than anything, Rivera believes in service. “They're getting that one-on-one interaction with a human being,” he says of his customers. “Somebody is able to talk to them and explain to them and listen to them… and give them the best recommendation.”

The experience is what keeps people coming back—not just from the neighborhood, but from across the city and beyond. “Ditmars is a super tourist destination,” he notes. “We have LaGuardia really nearby… This is the first dispensary they’ve ever been in. So we try to give them the best customer service experience that they could get.”

Now, Terp Bros is growing. A second location in Ozone Park is already built out and awaiting final approvals. “Yeah, Ozone Park, second location, rocking and rolling, ready to go built out,” Rivera says.

That growth reflects the staying power of Rivera’s vision—and the loyalty of a customer base that feels deeply connected to the brand. “It’s the atmosphere,” he says. “When you walk in, it’s the look of the store. We wanted somewhere where people came in and off the jump, they felt relieved, they felt comfortable. They knew that they are going to get what they asked for when they left.”

Rivera has a knack for connection. He can speak with lawmakers, neighborhood grandmothers, first-time buyers, and seasoned legacy operators without missing a beat. “I feel I am able to break bread with a lot of people because I pick good people to be around… but I never close the door, right? I'm always willing to have a conversation and I'm always willing to hear what people have to offer before I say yes or no.”

It’s that kind of unfiltered authenticity—Queens humor and hustle—that makes Rivera so unique. “Retail is my niche,” he says. “One thing I know how to do is buy and sell.”

And the passion is real. “It is the responsibility I have to so many of my employees to make sure that we're doing the right thing and we're keeping these doors open.”

So, where’d the name come from? “My best friend Joe came up with the name… we love weed. Fucking, what's the best thing about weed is the taste. It's the terps—fucking Terp Bros.”

Simple. Real. Built different.

Visit Terp Bros at 36-10 Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria, Queens or online at www.terpbrosnyc.com, Astoria and NYC . Stay tuned for the Ozone Park grand opening, coming Summer 2025.