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Hell’s Kitchen just scored a new commuter hub—only this one runs on flower, not Metro-North trains. NYC Bud, the team behind Long Island City’s subway car-themed dispensary, has unveiled its second location at 405 W. 39th St. and it’s a cannabis lover’s ticket to ride.
Instead of departures and arrivals, the “main concourse” here is lined with curated New York-grown flower, pre-rolls, vapes and edibles. The showstopper is a scaled-down replica of Grand Central’s famous turquoise-and-gold constellation ceiling, hand-painted by street artists Jamie Hef and Cern. It arches over a central information booth (clocktower coming soon) that doubles as a pick-up counter, where your order pops up on a screen like a train schedule. Even the ATM machines are dressed as Metro-North ticket kiosks—because, why not?
Co-founders and longtime friends Jonpaul Pezzo and Giancarlo Pinto say the Grand Central theme was about taking their original transit nostalgia concept “to the next station.” “This one is more an ode to Grand Central Station,” NYC Bud co-founder and owner Jonpaul Pezzo told Honeysuckle. “Our first location had an actual train in it. With this one, we wanted to elevate the idea—create something that feels just as epic and just as New York.”
That commitment to immersive design is as much about Instagram as it is about ambiance. “Our goal is always, what is going to get people to take pictures of this place, post about it, and become its promoters?” Pezzo told W42ST. Mission accomplished—the ribbon-cutting on Aug. 2 featured street performances (including viral act Buddy the Rat) and a steady stream of gawking visitors snapping ceiling selfies.
The pair has deep roots in the neighborhood—Pezzo threw his first Hell’s Kitchen party in 2003, and Pinto’s been a fixture on West 39th Street for years—and they’re betting on the area’s continued transformation. The Port Authority’s shiny new bus facility is going up next door and they see their shop as part of a more polished future for the block.
While the decor is pure showpiece, the menu is all business: Every strain has been personally tested by Pezzo, with products sourced from top-tier New York farms like Dank. Whether you’re into premium flower, craft gummies or sleek vape carts, it’s all compliant with state law and served by an in-house crew of passionate cannabis pros.
NYC Bud’s Hell’s Kitchen location is open daily from 11am to 11pm. All aboard the green train!