New Cannabinoids Apothecary Opens In Sag Harbor
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Time to read 6 min
This article originally appeared on 27East.
East meets west on Sag Harbor’s Main Street, where Dragon Hemp Apothecary, which seeks to blend the emerging market for CBD therapeutic products with traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has opened its doors in the space formerly occupied by the Corner Closet consignment shop.
Dragon Hemp Apothecary is run by Kevin Menard, who has also run a sports medicine acupuncture practice in the village since 2012. A former sales executive in the city, who has competed in triathlons and practiced martial arts, Menard said he was always open to alternative forms of medicine.
When a friend recommended he try acupuncture for a shoulder injury, the results were both immediate and effective. “The first treatment had a profound effect on me,” he said.
Fast-forward to 2008. When the bottom fell out of the economy, and a deep recession gripped the country, Menard found himself unemployed and burned out. But rather than wait for an opening in his field, he decided to become an acupuncturist himself.
“To pivot like that and go back to school to learn Chinese medicine was a very steep curve,” he said.
Kevin Menard, LAc. & Korina Antovic by Stephen J. Kotz for The Express News Group
After years of training, which included learning about traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Menard planned to open a practice in the city, but a stalled apartment renovation, followed by Superstorm Sandy, forced him to look on the East End, where he and his husband already owned a home.
About four years ago, the growing field of cannabinoid, or CBD, products caught Menard’s attention, and he began incorporating them into his practice.
“CBD is really great at reducing inflammation,” Menard said, “and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to add Chinese herbs, specific Chinese herbs, to amplify those results?’”
Menard added that traditional Chinese herbs are unappealing to the American palette — “They are really effective, but they taste gross and they smell gross,” he said — so he began combining them with CBD products to create a variety of formulations to address different ailments.
He markets his products under the name Dragon Hemp Apothecary, noting that in Chinese culture the dragon is a symbol of health and wellness. He works with licensed manufacturers to create balms, tinctures and pills to his specifications. He also has an arrangement to purchase CBD products from Hudson Farms upstate.
Kevin Menard, LAc. & Korina Antovic by Stephen J. Kotz for The Express News Group
Some of his products include Rest, which, as the name implies, helps encourage restful sleep, which costs $90 for a month’s supply; Relief, a formulation designed to target pain and inflammation, and costs $75; and Reach, which is designed to promote clarity and focus, and costs $45.
Menard said he hoped the shop would serve an educational function as well, saying he wanted to teach people about the difference between CBD and THC and introduce them to the benefits of Chinese herbal medicine.
Menard said he has always relied on his patients’ feedback and hopes they will continue to weigh in.
He also plans to feature regular programming and events with local practitioners in the healing arts as well demonstrations in herbal formulations.
Menard said he had been looking for a storefront for some time, and was fortunate to find out that the Corner Closet was available. The space has been redesigned, with dark green tile, Chinese lanterns, and large jars of Chinese herbs arrayed like penny candy on one wall, and Dragon Hemp Apothecary products lining the other side.
The store is managed by Korina Antovic, but Menard, who has reduced his acupuncture practice for the time being, is at the store most afternoons.
The shop’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.
This article originally appeared on 27East.
Rediscover restful nights with the Rest & Restoration Collection.
Our Apothecary.
Our Apothecary in Sag Harbor, New York was conceived as a beacon of rejuvenation and wellness in the Hamptons. Much more than a dispensary, at the core of the Dragon Hemp Apothecary is a commitment to education and understanding the benefits of time-honored herbal remedies synthesized with today’s advancements in cannabinoid research.
Offering an array of products designed to align with the wellness needs of the Hamptons community, the store seeks to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern applications, making herbal medicine more compatible with our lifestyles today. Our unique apothecary in Sag Harbor not only represents a physical space but also embodies Dragon Hemp's ethos of premium, all-natural, effective wellness solutions, drawing from the rich heritage of the Hamptons and the innovative spirit of New York.
Not your conventional dispensary, our first-of-its-kind retail location, harmoniously balances tradition and innovation with an emphasis on experience and education. We invite you to step inside and let our herbal experts guide you on an exploration of the rejuvenating power of cannabinoids and traditional herbs in a setting that feels both timeless and contemporary.
Designed in collaboration with renowned Alfredo Paredes Studio, the apothecary embodies a sophisticated fusion of old-world tradition and contemporary application. Known for his 33-year tenure as Ralph Lauren Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, Alfredo Paredes, a master of crafting memorable retail experiences, helped transform the space into a shining gem of Sag Harbor. Reflecting the premium, natural, and therapeutic essence of Dragon Hemp, every aspect of the store, including the unique furniture pieces from Paredes' line, contributes to an ambiance of refined tranquility and wellness. The design echoes a classic herbal pharmacy blended with a modern aesthetic, mirroring our brand ethos of contemporizing ancient herbal medicine for today’s applications. Read more about our Apothecary design in Forbes.
Standing out on Main Street in Sag Harbor with the glow of our distinctive neon sign, our unique retail store has become a design destination of its own -- beyond just wellness -- in one of the Hamptons’ most popular villages. Whether you’re looking for potent natural therapeutics to tackle pain & inflammation or legal THC products to enhance mood or improve sleep, our apothecary is your safe haven at 108 Main Street.
Our Products.
Our products are formulated to serve the four crucial daily needs most often seen in Kevin’s practice—Essential Wellbeing for comprehensive health, Rest & Restoration to foster rejuvenation, Aches & Pains for relief from discomfort, and Liniments for body care that enhances both physical and emotional wellbeing.
Available in four versatile forms—swift-absorbing tinctures, targeted balms, discreet gummies, and moisturizers—we ensure a suitable choice for every lifestyle and wellness routine.
Our story.
Dragon Hemp is the practitioner-founded apothecary that produces plant-based therapeutics formulated with a proprietary blend of next-generation botanicals and time honored herbal remedies.
For people seeking treatments that give relief & address the root cause.
Our herbal remedies are innovative and user-friendly, with wellness benefits that are effective & accessible to everyone.
So you can feel like yourself again.
Our Founder.
Kevin Menard, LAc., is the leading practitioner in Sports Medicine Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine on the East End of Long Island, with clientele ranging from business executives and fitness professionals to wellness gurus and weekend warriors.
As he cultivated his practice, Kevin began integrating CBD & other cannabinoids, native botanicals, and herbs into his treatments, addressing conditions like pain, musculoskeletal injuries, insomnia, and more.
Following the promising results from his herbal and CBD-infused treatments, Kevin expanded his work, introducing Dragon Hemp to support patient wellness beyond his clinic's walls.
Our Ingredients.
We carefully select our organically grown ingredients, emphasizing sustainability to protect Earth's biodiversity.
We believe in transparency in all our processes, from ingredient selection to the methods used by our CBD farmers, who lead the sustainable agriculture charge and concentrate on ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration.
We're not just about products but about nurturing an understanding of traditional herbal practices and helping people make healthy decisions.
With respect, we introduce newcomers to the benefits of age old herbal wisdom.
Our aim is a future where well-being stems from nature, combining timeless knowledge with today's research.
Discover the distinctive characteristics of each herb in our Ingredient Index.
