A Beacon of Community and Wellness: The Biography of Happy Days LI
In the rapidly evolving landscape of New York’s legal cannabis market, few names resonate with as much warmth and local pride as Happy Days LI. More than just a retail storefront, Happy Days—located at 105 Route 109 in Farmingdale, New York—has emerged as a cultural and educational anchor for Long Island. Since its inception, the dispensary has balanced the complexities of a highly regulated industry with a simple, human-centric mission: to spread happiness and education while giving back to the community that raised its founders.
Foundations and Visionary Leadership
Happy Days was born from the collective expertise of three Long Island natives: Paul Lepore, Jay Grossman, and Keith Hart. Each founder brought a distinct set of skills that allowed the business to thrive where others struggled.
Paul Lepore (President): A veteran of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, Lepore provided the scientific backbone for the operation. His background in regulated health products ensured that Happy Days approached cannabis not just as a commodity, but as a complex botanical that requires precise understanding.
Jay Grossman: A renowned restaurateur (owner of Refuge and K Pacho), Grossman brought a sophisticated understanding of hospitality. His influence is felt in the "customer-first" atmosphere of the dispensary, which prioritizes comfort and personalized service over transactional speed.
Keith Hart: As the owner of The Hart Agency and several hospitality venues, Hart contributed a mastery of marketing and brand identity. His deep roots in the Long Island beverage and hospitality scene helped Happy Days weave itself into the local business fabric.
The trio’s path to legality was defined by a "fastidious" approach to regulation. While the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) faced criticism for slow rollouts, Lepore and his partners focused on precision, ensuring every document was filed with exactitude—a strategy that allowed them to become only the second recreational dispensary to open in Suffolk County in January 2024.
The Educational Mission
At the heart of happydaysli.com is a commitment to cannabis literacy. The founders recognized early on that decades of prohibition had created a "knowledge gap." To bridge this, Happy Days positioned itself as an education-first resource.
The dispensary offers free consultations, catering to both the "cannabis novice" and the "connoisseur." By focusing on how cannabinoids metabolize differently in each individual, the team helps demystify the experience for seniors, medical patients transitioning to recreational products, and first-time users. Their online platform serves as a digital extension of this philosophy, providing FAQs that clarify the differences between regulated marijuana and the "gray market" products often found in unlicensed shops.
A Product Selection for the People
Happy Days boasts one of the largest product selections in New York State, featuring over 1,000 unique items. Their inventory strategy is deeply rooted in localism, frequently prioritizing Long Island-grown flower and minority-owned brands.
| Category | Highlighted Products |
| Flower | Premium indoor and organic sun-grown options (e.g., Milkweed, Ithaca Organics). |
| Vapes/Concentrates | High-potency live resins and "all-in-one" devices from brands like ROVE and MFNY. |
| Edibles | A vast array of gummies, beverages, and chocolates, including hash-rosin infused options. |
| Lifestyle | Branded apparel, high-end grinders, and "Happy Days" 40oz insulated tumblers. |
The dispensary’s "Happy Club" loyalty program further incentivizes this community connection, rewarding regular visitors (referred to as earning "smiles") and offering exclusive tiered rewards.
"More Than a Store": The Philanthropic Heart
Perhaps the most defining characteristic of Happy Days is its profound commitment to charity. For the founders, the dispensary is a vehicle for social good. This is not merely corporate social responsibility; it is a personal mission.
In 2025, Happy Days made headlines by raising nearly $120,000 for Gift of Life International, a nonprofit that provides life-saving heart surgeries for children. This cause was particularly personal for Paul Lepore, who has been involved with the organization for decades. His dedication was a tribute to his late brother, illustrating the deep emotional stakes behind the "Happy Days" brand.
Their charitable reach extends across various sectors:
Healthcare: Significant donations to cancer research and mental health charities.
Youth & Poverty: Providing meals for homeless families and toys for underprivileged youth.
Community Support: Supporting at-risk youth programs and local veterans.
Normalizing Cannabis through Collaboration
Happy Days has been a pioneer in "normalizing" cannabis by partnering with traditional local businesses. A prime example is their collaboration with Sand City Brewing Company, which launched a terpene-influenced "Happy Days IPA." These types of partnerships help shift the public perception of cannabis from a counter-culture element to a celebrated part of the Long Island lifestyle and economy.
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