Eckerd Pharmacy is now Rite Aid

Story and photo by Donna M. Webb
Grand Island DIspatch, June 15, 2007

The Grand Island Eckerd drug store is now a Rite Aid and should soon be sporting a banner announcing the changeover. The Rite Aid Corp. has acquired all of the Brooks and Eckerd pharmacies in the United States.

The existing Rite Aid drug store in the Tops Plaza will be purchased by another pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe.

As part of the agreement with the Federal Trade Commission, all employees at the current Eckerd and Rite Aid stores will be maintained, according to Jody Cook, senior manager of public relations for Rite Aid. She also said that some positions will be added in Rite Aid’s new location in the pharmacy, so pharmacists can spend more time with customers.

“We are rebranding all of the stores and everything to Rite Aid,” Cook added. She said Rite Aid stores will be adding 8,000 new products, such as durable medical goods, to their line, enabling customers to have more choices.

“Rite Aid products are national brand quality but at a savings to consumers,” Cook said. The pharmacy’s technology will be upgraded, and the front cash registers and credit card machines will be matched to Rite Aid’s system.

“More locations all linked by a single network, which means you’ll be able to pick up your prescriptions at any of our more than 5,000 locations nationwide,” according to the Web site www.eckerd.com. Also, customers will be able to view their pharmacy records online at any time, at www.myriteaid.com.

Cook explained some special programs Rite Aid offers. It has a senior loyalty program called “Living More,” which provides discounts on products in the store. This is for individuals age 60 and older. “We run six different health initiatives throughout the year,” Cook said. For the month of June and July, the focus is on healthy summer skin care. Information will be offered on the risks of skin cancer, how to detect it, and the use of sunscreens and sunblocks. Subsequent programs will deal with management of pain, diabetes, and weight. “In February, we start our healthy heart initiative,” Cook said.

All of the stores Rite Aid has acquired, including the Grand Island store, will be completely converted to Rite Aids in a 16-month time frame, Cook said. There will be new decor for the stores, as well. “We are planning on investing $1 billion in this conversion,” she added. Once that is finished, Rite Aid plans to remodel some stores over the next few years.