Planet Nugg opened at 2043 Wellwood Avenue in East Farmingdale in September 2024, becoming the third state-licensed adult-use dispensary on Long Island, according to the Long Island Press. It arrived in a corner of Suffolk County that had quietly become the Island's first cannabis cluster: Strain Stars and Happy Days, the first two licensed shops on Long Island, are both nearby.
A chiropractor's second act
The license holder is Dave Tubens, a chiropractor who sold his practice to open the shop. He qualified through New York's CAURD program, and the dispensary operates under license OCM-CAURD-24-000069. The Long Island Press and Greater Long Island identify his partners as Walter Bonilla, Paul Doreste and Umberto Romero — all native Long Islanders and Latino business owners.
At launch, Tubens told the Press his core argument for legal retail: if people are going to use cannabis, they should get it from a safe place, and everything on his shelves has to be approved by New York State. The shop's About page describes it as family-owned, with an emphasis on relationships among ownership, growers, budtenders and customers.
What Long Island coverage has noted
Local press has followed Planet Nugg closely since before it opened. The Long Island Press covered its debut, its first months, and a 2025 profile focused on service design; Greater Long Island framed its arrival as the moment East Farmingdale became the Island's cannabis hub. The original plan, according to the Press, was an April 2024 opening, so the September debut came several months late — a common story among CAURD shops.
One detail from that coverage is worth flagging for readers: the shop's marketing partner has described cannabis in health-related terms. High Today doesn't make medical claims, and shoppers with health questions should talk to a clinician rather than rely on any retailer's marketing.
5,000 square feet and an outer-space theme
Planet Nugg is big by Long Island standards — about 5,000 square feet of retail space with more than 1,700 New York-approved products, which the shop describes as the largest inventory in town. The design leans into its name with a futuristic, space-inspired look and glass display cases. In a 2025 profile, the Press described an "Apple-like" shopping model: products organized by type rather than brand, and budtenders carrying iPads to pull up product details and make recommendations.
That's where the "education-first" reputation comes from. Rather than a separate class schedule, most education happens one-on-one at the counter, supplemented by educational forums and brand events. Beyond flower, vapes and edibles, the catalog includes THC beverages, tinctures, topicals, CBD, accessories and apparel. If you're building a low-and-slow routine, our microdosing guide pairs well with a counter conversation like this.
How it handles a first visit
Because products are grouped by type rather than by brand, a first-timer can start with a format — say, a low-dose gummy or a single pre-roll — and let a budtender narrow options on the iPad from there. That's a sensible structure for a 1,700-item catalog, which would otherwise be hard to navigate.
Club Nugg, specials and the $100 delivery radius
The shop's site outlines several ways to save and shop:
- Club Nugg, an app-based rewards program on iOS and Android with points tracking, early product access and personalized deals.
- Rotating BOGO specials, bundle pricing and bulk discounts, plus seasonal promotions such as doubled veterans' discounts over Memorial Day weekend.
- Same-day delivery within a 25-mile radius of Farmingdale (excluding Fire Island), with a $100 minimum and no delivery fee, in two-hour windows seven days a week.
- In-store and curbside pickup.
The contact page lists a 9 a.m. opening six days a week with a 9 p.m. close, and Sunday hours of 10 to 8; call (631) 460-3441 to confirm. The site also highlights easy parking and a pet-friendly policy. Planning a bigger delivery order to clear the $100 minimum? Our guide to storing cannabis so it stays fresh helps it last.
Small details worth knowing
- Planet Nugg runs a separate accessories shop online and sells branded apparel.
- Its blog posts seasonal guides — recent entries covered Labor Day deals and football-season picks — that often preview promotions.
- The shop publishes a return policy and an events calendar on its website.
Scholarships, Narcan and shelter dogs
Planet Nugg puts unusual weight on community programs. According to the shop and Long Island Press coverage, it funds Farmingdale State College scholarships, supports animal shelters (including in-store meet-and-greets with rescue dogs), hosts Narcan training — the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office ran one at its event space in December 2024 — and has organized PTSD workshops and Seniors Day events. The Press also reported on The Cloud Lounge, a separate event space with a heated patio used for forums and promotions.
In 2025 the ownership group also announced plans for additional locations elsewhere in Suffolk, including a North Fork project; check the shop's site for the current status of any expansion.
Wellwood Avenue's dispensary cluster
East Farmingdale's density is the main reason to compare before you buy. Per OCM:
- Strain Stars, at 1815 Broadhollow Rd, opened in July 2023 as Long Island's first licensed dispensary.
- Happy Days Dispensary, at 105 Route 109, opened at the end of 2023.
All three sit within a few minutes' drive of each other along the Route 110/Route 109 corridor. Planet Nugg's selling points against its neighbors are the size of the catalog, the guided iPad-assisted service, and its event and community calendar. Our roundup of the best dispensaries on Long Island weighs all three, and High Today's deal listings show what Suffolk shops are running now.
Why East Farmingdale became a cluster
East Farmingdale is a hamlet in Suffolk County's Town of Babylon, just over the line from Nassau County, where most towns opted out of allowing dispensaries. That geography helps explain why three of Long Island's first licensed shops landed within a few minutes of each other here: they sit close to Nassau's population while operating in a town that allowed retail.
The location also puts Planet Nugg near Republic Airport, Farmingdale State College and the Route 110 business corridor, with the Farmingdale LIRR station a short drive away. Most customers arrive by car, and the shop's lot makes that easy.
Who will like it most
- Newer consumers who want a slower, guided shopping experience.
- Variety seekers who want the widest product range in the Farmingdale area.
- Nassau-Suffolk border residents within the 25-mile delivery zone.
- Shoppers who like their dispensary to be involved in local causes.
See the current menu and Club Nugg details on Planet Nugg's official site.