Discount Drug Mart celebrates 40-year anniversary

MEDINA, Ohio Discount Drug Mart will be celebrating their 40-year anniversary this year, the chain noted Wednesday. Discount Drug Mart will be celebrating their 40-year anniversary this year, the chain noted Wednesday.

“Started by a pharmacist who had a vision to share his knowledge of the industry, his compassion for people, and to create a community like business, Parviz Boodjeh opened his first Discount Drug Mart store in 1969 in Elyria, Ohio,” the company stated.  Boodjeh’s business model included integrating disease management and health screening services along with providing a wide-variety of health care and household staple items that made it convenient for customers to shop in one place. The company slogan and their well-known jingle says it all: "Discount Drug Mart Saves You the Runaround...We Have Everything You Need."  

Attributing the success of Discount Drug Mart to hard work and determination, Boodjeh has led the business to the No. 8 ranking in retail sales among retail drug store chains nationwide this year. “Being an Ohio-based company and seeing the changes that our state and our economy have gone through in the past, and are currently struggling with, it is our policy and our mission that we do everything in our power to help our customers save money on their prescriptions, health care items, as well as household supplies,” stated Doug Boodjeh, Discount Drug chief administration officer. 

Throughout 2009, Discount Drug Mart will be offering customers weekly “40-year anniversary” specials.  “It’s our way of saying thanks to all the customers for their loyalty and support over the last four decades,” Boodjeh said.  “If it weren’t for their continued patronage, we wouldn’t be where we are today.” 

Discount Drug Mart currently has 68 stores in more than 20 counties across Ohio including Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati.  The 25,000-sq.-ft. stores stock more than 40,000 items ranging from a full service pharmacy and extended home health care department to groceries and seasonal merchandise. The chain recently introduced a generic prescription program offering customers hundreds of generic drugs for $3.99 for a 30-day supply and $9.99 for a 90-day supply. Discount Drug Mart also participates in many charitable, community and education related fundraising activities, including cookouts at many of their stores throughout the summer, donating all proceeds to local community charities. Other fundraisers include the Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Diabetes Association and the Northeast Ohio Coats for Kids campaign.