Small pharmacy in Elmira is big on personal service
Completely renovated old home in downtown core is home to the newly opened Elmira Remedy’s RX
THE FORMER SITE OF Candies Burger Suite in downtown Elmira looks nothing like its previous self now. Extensive renovations inside have changed the property into a new pharmacy, Elmira Remedy’s RX.
Pharmacy owner and manager Raj Patel says it was important to maintain the character of the 130-year-old building, which was accomplished.
The stairs that were inside are long gone, replaced by two beams for additional support.
It took four months to finish the main floor renovation and one month for Patel to do the interior and shelving. Exterior painting and small landscaping are still to be done, but the pharmacy has been open for business since June 1.
“I’m very humbled with the reception. The first day I had 15, 20 people visit the pharmacy and say hello and then checked out how it looks,” Patel said.
He spent a year looking for a good location in Elmira and chose this property due to its relatively small size and easy access to other health practitioners in the downtown core.
“It is kind of a health hub, the health and wellness centre, optometrist, dentist, doctor, chiropractor. I thought this would be a good place to have a pharmacy,” Patel said.
He’s originally from India and moved to Canada in 2004, upgraded his pharmacy education and got his pharmacy certificate of registration in 2010.
Previously, he worked as a staff pharmacist with Loblaws Pharmacy until 2013 and then he was moved to Mount Forest, where he worked as a pharmacy manager until last month. His family lives in Waterloo Region, so starting a business in Elmira meant he, his wife and their son could be closer to them.
Also, he filled in as a pharmacist at Elmira’s No Frills in 2009 and 2010 and became familiar with the area.
“I worked with Mennonites a lot when I was in Hanover and Mount Forest and I found that the Mennonite community itself is very friendly,” Patel said.
While someone might question why Elmira needs a fourth pharmacy, the town is only expected to grow with some 1,700 new houses on tap for subdivisions now under construction.
“I know there are other pharmacies but the town is growing . ... We think we can still manage to grow all together,” Patel said.
He says as an independent pharmacist he has flexibility to do what’s needed for the patient – home visits, for instance, something he wasn’t able to do in previous situations. He can also help seniors sort through the medication in their bathroom cupboards and weed out what’s expired, or check someone’s blood pressure at home if they’re unable to come in to the pharmacy.
“In an independent pharmacy I don’t have any other ways of generating revenue. Whoever comes in I have to be 100 per cent towards that customer, so that is oneon-one personalized touch involved on top of the merchandising. Say, for example, somebody buys a cane or crutches, on top of that item or medication there’s a personal touch involved. I will try to remember your name, maybe I will try to remember our last conversation, medication, side effect, or how you’re doing, did that idea work, did you
improve since then,” Patel said.
Patel explains he chose a career in pharmacy because he was drawn to biology more so than math in high school and he enjoys talking to people, so pharmacy seemed like the right option.
He’s planning to carry the most common home healthcare items, such as non-prescription compression stockings. The pharmacy will also offer flu shots in the coming flu season.
Once business picks up he plans to hire another pharmacist part-time.
“As an independent owner I get to start building my relationships from scratch, so it’s a new experience and it’s a different environment,” Patel said.
They’re planning an official grand opening on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but the pharmacy is already open for business at 75 Arthur St. S. The pharmacy is open Monday to Friday 9-7, Saturday 9-4, and closed on Sunday.