Bushwick blast off – Dispensary power washes paint job to reveal Biggie mural once again

Residents in the Bushwick community are celebrating a mural that unifies the neighborhood after it was painted over by a new dispensary.

Shniece Archer

Feb 17, 2024, 11:20 PM

Updated 256 days ago

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Residents in the Bushwick community are celebrating a mural that unifies the neighborhood after it was painted over by a new dispensary.
The mural of Christopher Wallace, aka The Notorious B.I.G., as a baby on Suydam Street was a staple until the Emerald Dispensary painted over it before their grand opening on Monday. 
CEO Christina Degiovanni told News 12 they decided to paint it jet black because they did not want to risk not passing their inspection with the Office of Cannabis Management. A source from OCM said there was a miscommunication and the mural never needed to be covered. On Saturday, the Emerald Dispensary hosted a "blast-off" to power wash off the paint and bring the mural back to the community.
Degiovanni expressed how important it is for new businesses to listen to the community and work together on preserving history.
"We want to represent Bushwick and the community and the culture and the history of Bushwick as much as we can. We want to be a part of Bushwick's history going forward," said Christina Degiovanni.
Brooklynites in the area told News 12 they felt heard and watching Biggie return is a reminder that their voices matter.