Standing on 125th Street, you can almost hear the ghosts of greatness. The Apollo Theater looms across the way, a reminder that this stretch of Harlem has always been about opening doors for those who’d been locked out. Ella Fitzgerald won Amateur Night here. James Brown brought the house down. And now, directly across from that legendary stage, a family is writing their own chapter—one that involves significantly more terpenes.
Gregory Gray // Co-Founder & CEOGotham Buds isn’t just Harlem’s first legal dispensary. It’s the largest in New York City, with the most extensive product selection in the five boroughs. But the square footage is almost beside the point.
The company emerged from a partnership between co-founders Gregory Gray and Omar Tejeda in 2020. Gray serves as CEO, while Tejeda, who brings two decades of healthcare facilities management—handles CFO duties. Malika C. Bellamy, Gray’s cousin, is EVP of Communications and Marketing. Issa Minkah is Head of Digital & Multimedia, and COO Jeff Lopez came from the legacy market as a justice-impacted individual.
“We wanted 125th in Harlem to be proud of what we were doing. A place of education. A place of clean, legal, safe consumption.”
From Healthcare to Cannabis Care
Tejeda’s path to cannabis winds through twenty years of facilities management—including eleven years at the Institute for Family Health. That discipline translates directly to running a dispensary, but his connection to the plant runs deeper.
Omar Tejada / Co-Founder & CEO“My journey with cannabis started while I was a project manager,” he shares. “Gotham Buds gave me a chance to carry that over using all the tools. Being resourceful, being organized, understanding what customer service really means.”
That healthcare background shapes how Tejeda approaches nervous first-timers—asking the right questions, considering their chemistry and conditions, steering beginners toward appropriate dosages.
“I try to encourage beginners to begin at the beginning,” he says. “It’s good to respect the confines of tolerance.”
Three Pillars, One Vision
Most dispensaries sell weed. Gotham Buds identified three interconnected pillars: cannabis, music, and apparel—the connective tissue of New York culture.
“Weed and hip hop go together. Weed and fashion go together,” Bellamy observes. “Everyone has access to the same great product. But there’s always been this anchor or this draw to the art.”
The G-Men label has Que Jones producing emerging artists. The apparel division, helmed by Tanaka Selmon, carries Fashion Week ambitions.
“That’s quintessential New York,” Bellamy continues. “Good food, good fashion, good music. And now good weed.”
“Descheduling means equity. Hard stop. The folks that bore the real brunt of the War on Drugs… are behind bars. That legislation will allow us to ensure their true freedoms.”
The Weight of Legacy
Gotham Buds wears its ownership as a badge: Black-owned, Brown-owned, Women-owned, Family-owned. For Bellamy, who grew up between the DMV and Uptown Harlem, descheduling isn’t abstract—it’s equity.
“Descheduling means equity. Hard stop,” she says. “The folks that bore the real brunt of the War on Drugs… are behind bars. That legislation will allow us to ensure their true freedoms.”
“We’re not just here to sell you weed, make some money and go home,” Bellamy insists. “We’re here to be a fixture in this community like so many iconic businesses that have made Harlem what it is.”
Changing Hearts on 125th Street
When Gotham Buds opened in October 2023, not everyone celebrated. Bellamy remembers a woman on opening day shouting that the community didn’t need more drugs. The team understood—the trauma of the War on Drugs runs deep here.
Two years later, ripple effects are visible. Turkey giveaways, toy drives, outreach to senior centers, Gotham Buds shows up beyond transactions.
“A part of that ripple is how we coach our community through this process,” Bellamy reflects. “And invite them to walk hand in hand with us.”
One surprise? Customers skewed older than expected, Gen Xers, Boomers, seniors curious about legal options.
“I remember back in my day,” she laughs, mimicking older customers. “And it’s just like, oh okay, this is nice.”
“Some corners aren’t meant to be cut. I came from excellence. When we came together, it was common knowledge we were going to offer Fifth Avenue service on 125th.”
Fifth Avenue Service on 125th
Tejeda bristles at any suggestion quality might be sacrificed for efficiency.
“Some corners aren’t meant to be cut,” he states. “I came from excellence. When we came together, it was common knowledge we were going to offer Fifth Avenue service on 125th.”
He was on-site during buildout daily, overseeing HVAC and sprinkler tests. The space was designed to influence behavior.
“I think spaces change behavior,” Tejeda muses. “When someone with negative vibes walks into a place with positivity, I’d like to think it’s an influence.”
What’s in the Stash
Bellamy dubs herself the “Pre-Roll Princess”, her schedule doesn’t accommodate grinding. Favorites include Vanilla Frosting, White Widow, Girl Scout Cookies, and Zizzle’s Bubble Bath for sleep.
One strain holds special status: “Love Jones from Tical. Every time I have a chance… it’s always, do we have any Love Jones?”
Tejeda’s answer carries grower’s pride, he cultivates his own with premium nutrients and high-end lights.
“Very few farms are going to give me a run for my money personally,” he says. Current rotation? Lemon Cherry Gelato from his personal grow.
Looking Forward
Three years out, Bellamy envisions more locations, G-Men filling venues globally, apparel at Fashion Week. The core mission remains: partnership, descheduling advocacy, normalization.
For first-timers, Tejeda offers the practical pitch: largest dispensary, largest variety, right questions for every customer.
Bellamy adds the intangible: “The best vibe in New York City. It really is a family.”
She grins. “And you never know who you’re going to meet.”
Gotham Buds 253 West 125th Street, Harlem @gothambuds
