Pay-Less Markets announced Aug. 14 the opening of SuperDrug in Upper Tumon, inside Kmart, replacing the Kmart Pharmacy. The pharmacy hours are Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Kathy Calvo The sixth SuperDrug will soon accept Medicare Part-D and Medicaid/MIP, Pay-Less said.
Katherine R. Calvo, CEO of Pay-Less told the Journal Kmart had approached one of its pharmacists to begin the discussion on SuperDrug taking the pharmacy space in Upper Tumon. “We were able to transfer the majority of their personnel,” she said. The two companies have been working on the deal for several months, she said.
Despite mail order prescriptions, Calvo said, “The pharmaceutical business is still thriving here on Guam.”
In 1994 Kmart had 1,674 pharmacies, including those in the 67 Super Kmarts, so a presence in about three-quarters of its 2,350 stores, it said. The number of Kmart pharmacies decreased as Kmart stores closed. In 2012 Walgreen Co. announced it would acquire 33 Kmart pharmacies in 16 states.
With the closure of the New Jersey store in October, the two remaining Kmarts in the U.S. mainland are in Miami, Fla. and Suffolk County in Long Island, New York State. The Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam still have stores.
Retention of a pharmacy may help the Guam Kmart retain its appeal, particularly when the Don Don Donki village opens, which is due to be in March 2024.
In related Pay-Less news ... Worksite Labs, a diagnostic laboratory company opened the first of three patient centers on June 12 at the Dededo Pay-Less Supermarket. Calvo confirmed it will open a center at the Yigo Pay-Less. Worksite Labs will also open at the Guam Regional Medical Center, it said.
Headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., the company operates labs in 23 cities in seven states, besides Guam. mbj
