Clark’s Pharmacy store opens in Van Wert

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A new business is laying claim to the “local pharmacy” title once held by Derry Drugs before its sale earlier this year to CVS.

Tim Clark, president/CEO of Clark’s Pharmacy, cut the ribbon Tuesday on the company’s new store in the former Three Rivers Credit Union site on South Shannon Street. It’s the ninth store for the chain, founded in 1939 by James Clark Sr. in Belmont. Other Clark’s Pharmacy stores are located in Brookville, Cedarville, Centerville, Huber Heights, Middletown and New Lebanon, while the company also owns Tim’s Pharmacy in Beavercreek and Greg’s Pharmacy in Bluffton.

“The thing that kind of makes us stand out and be successful is we focus on being a really good pharmacy,” Tim Clark said Tuesday. “To us, a pharmacy is filling your prescriptions and stuff and not selling you stuff you really don’t need. It has to do with relationships and service. That’s how independents are successful.”

Former Derry Drugs customers will also see some familiar faces at the new Van Wert pharmacy, since several former Derry’s employees – some with decades of service there – have been hired to work in the new Clark’s location.

Unlike CVS and Walmart, Tim Clark said his company focuses exclusively on pharmaceutical and related medical equipment items. Although inventory is smaller than its competitors, Tim Clark said the store can order and quickly receive items not on its shelves, either from one of its other stores or one of its medical suppliers.

In addition to competitive prices on its medications, Clark’s Rx sells and rents medical equipment, packages medication, provides diabetic screenings, and offers home delivery of prescriptions and other items.

According to the company’s website, prescriptions are filled in about 10 minutes and the company also offers a price match guarantee.

Clark stressed that the new store hopes to take over where Derry Drugs left off, as far as being a “hometown” pharmacy with an emphasis on service.

“We try to give you people in your community who truly have a passion for service,” he noted. “I think people chose to go to Derry’s for a very long time. Our hope is those same people will choose to come here.”

Hours for the new store are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays.