LITTLE CURRENT—It’s been almost six years that Little Current has been a one drugstore town, since the downtown Island IDA closed. But come August, that will change with the opening of the Edgewater PharmaChoice, located in the former Edgewater Restaurant in downtown Little Current.
Soon-to-be Edgewater PharmaChoice proprietor Jim Roszel has 20 years of experience as a pharmacist, having worked for all of the major chains, in a cancer centre as well as nursing homes. He specializes in geriatric pharmacy. Mr. Roszel is also the owner of the Espanola Clinic Pharmacy located in the Espanola Family Health Team at the Espanola Hospital.
“We’re very excited about doing the Edgewater renovations and making it a full-service pharmacy,” Mr. Roszel told The Expositor. “We will be offering everything a pharmacy should and more.”
The Edgewater PharmaChoice will also be specializing in mobility aids, such as walkers and scooters “with really, really good pricing,” he said, “but our real business is prescription sales.”
Mr. Roszel is passionate about the mobility aids he offers, saying that he enjoys giving people the freedom to be able to move. He also offers on-site servicing for all of the scooters he sells.
Mr. Roszel noted that the drugstore will sell goods under the PharmaChoice banner (the fastest growing brand in Canada, he says) that also includes a reward program, one he touts as being “three times as good as Canadian Tire money.”
A resident of Whitefish Falls, Mr. Roszel said he will be sharing hours with another pharmacist, a familiar face for many customers.
Mr. Roszel said customers can expect an old fashioned feel to the new pharmacy with a “real focus on serving Little Current and area residents.” The Edgewater PharmaChoice will also offer addictions services (methadone and suboxone administration) as well as compression stocking fittings.
“I take possession June 6 and will be renovating immediately with plans to open by mid-August,” he added.
The pharmacist gave full kudos to Debby Turner of Turners of Little Current for contacting him about setting up shop on Manitoulin.
The Edgewater space is 1,700 square feet with plans to take out the large restaurant washrooms, create a room for private counselling and a compounding area.
“Our goal is not to compete with downtown merchants, but add to the mix,” he added. “I think it will be very positive for Little Current’s downtown.”
