A company led by legendary actor Whoopi Goldberg opened a working-class marijuana store in court for stagnant bids.
According to the Express Post, Goldberg’s Hoopfam is litigating a deal with a nonprofit run by Joey Torres, Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, who served in prison for corruption.
In dispute is the unpaid rent Torres’s House of Hope claims.
In return, Whoopfam claims Torres’ team misleads the property to be properly divided and approved for the cannabis business.
Limited cannabis options in Patterson, NJ
Paterson’s cannabis store has a Green Thumb Industrial location, which was formerly a medical dispensary.
The report said that after determining that all of these businesses were too close to homes, schools or places of worship, at least three businesses failed.
None of these three are hoopfam.
Still, with a state permit, Whoopfam rented real estate from House of House of House, a nonprofit Torres that was founded in 2019 for 13 months in prison.
The idea is a partnership that can be linked to work in the cannabis industry through Hoopfam’s retail stores, the report said.
No local approval Whoopi Goldberg-backed cannabis stores
The plans remained stagnant despite the failure of Whoopfam to obtain local approval, according to court documents.
According to Whoopfam’s lawsuit, Torres “said he’s absolutely sure the subject property has been approved by Mayor Patterson and the City Council” as a marijuana business.
Whoopfam’s July counterclaim said: “Torres knew or should have known that his representation was inaccurate.”
The counter-legal seeks more than $167,000 in fees, including a $60,000 application fee paid to the City of Patterson, the report said.
The May lawsuit seeks $52,514 unpaid rent from Whoopfam after the counterclaim.
Whoopfam paid House Of House $5,665 for a lease payment for one year, but stopped in September 2024.
It is not yet known how Torres and Goldberg are familiar with each other.
Torres served as mayor of Patterson until 2017 when he pleaded guilty to corruption charges and was sentenced to jail.
Despite being banned from public office in the state, he was re-convicted in 2023 after running for re-election.
