Peoples Drug
Encyclopedia
Peoples Drug was a chain of drug stores based in Alexandria, VA, a suburb of Washington, D.C.
. Founded in 1904, Peoples was subsequently purchased by Lane Drug
in 1975, Imasco in 1984, and finally by CVS in 1990, which continued to run the stores under the Peoples banner until 1994, at which time the stores were converted to CVS, marking the end of the use of the Peoples Drug name.
In 1970, Peoples had 252 stores operating in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. That year there were 5,500 employees, with sales of $220 million and profits of $1.87 million. By 1975, Peoples had grown to 500 stores. Later in the year, the chain was purchased by Lane Drug of Toledo, Ohio
.,, The new company retained the Peoples name, and included Lane Drug, Schuman Drug, Dynamic Drug, Health Mart
, Reed Drug, and Lee Drug. Lane president Sheldon "Bud" Fantle took over the presidency of the chain and went to work on improving merchandising and customer service at People's. In 1985, two 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) “Bud’s Deep Discount Drug Stores” were opened in the Toledo area, with others in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The name “Bud’s” was derived from the nickname of Sheldon “Bud” Fantle. In January, 1987, Mr. Fantle left Peoples and later took control of troubled Dart Drug
in Washington DC, renaming those stores Fantle's.
locations. Peoples soon acquired Rea & Derick and Haag Drug. In 1984, Peoples was acquired by the Canadian conglomerate Imasco, the Canadian arm of British American Tobacco
, and owner of Shoppers Drug Mart
and Pharmaprix in Canada. Peoples and its divisions had close to 800 stores and became one of the country's leading drug chains.
First to go were the Florida Shoppers Drug Mart stores, sold to Eckerd. Next was the Atlanta based Reed/Lee Drug to Big B Drugs
. The 85 store division gave Big B their entrance into the Atlanta market, a goal they had been working on for years. The next sale was Lane drug to Rite Aid
, effectve April 11, 1989. The last phase was the Indiana
division of Peoples being sold to management, changing the former Peoples stores to Reliable Drugs. Reliable survived only two to three years prior to being bought by Rite Aid
.
purchased Peoples. CVS kept the Peoples Drug name in place, remodeled most stores to the CVS format and improved the stores' sales. The Peoples name was considered to be too strong a name to change it to CVS/pharmacy immediately. The name did ultimately change in May 1994, just a few months before the Peoples Drug name would have celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Founded in 1904, Peoples was subsequently purchased by Lane Drug
Lane Drug
The Lane Drug Company of Ohio , was a discount drugstore chain in the United States based in Toledo, Ohio...
in 1975, Imasco in 1984, and finally by CVS in 1990, which continued to run the stores under the Peoples banner until 1994, at which time the stores were converted to CVS, marking the end of the use of the Peoples Drug name.
History
Peoples Drug was founded by Malcolm Gibbs in 1904, and by 1930 had 110 stores operating under Peoples Drugs, Days Drug, and Shearer Drug names. There were variations of the name, with Peoples Service Drug, and Gibbs Peoples Drug being most common.In 1970, Peoples had 252 stores operating in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. That year there were 5,500 employees, with sales of $220 million and profits of $1.87 million. By 1975, Peoples had grown to 500 stores. Later in the year, the chain was purchased by Lane Drug of Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
.,, The new company retained the Peoples name, and included Lane Drug, Schuman Drug, Dynamic Drug, Health Mart
Health Mart
Health Mart is a network of more than 2,500 independently owned and operated pharmacies. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of McKesson Pharmaceuticals, which owns the name "Health Mart."...
, Reed Drug, and Lee Drug. Lane president Sheldon "Bud" Fantle took over the presidency of the chain and went to work on improving merchandising and customer service at People's. In 1985, two 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) “Bud’s Deep Discount Drug Stores” were opened in the Toledo area, with others in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The name “Bud’s” was derived from the nickname of Sheldon “Bud” Fantle. In January, 1987, Mr. Fantle left Peoples and later took control of troubled Dart Drug
Dart Drug
Dart Drug is a now-defunct chain of discount drug stores in the metropolitan Washington, DC region. It was founded in 1955, by Herbert Haft and his wife Gloria in Adams Morgan. The chain expanded to over 100 stores, and became a vehicle by which Herbert Haft engaged in greenmail activities against...
in Washington DC, renaming those stores Fantle's.
Acquisition by Imasco
Peoples took control of the Florida Shoppers Drug MartShoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is Canada's largest pharmacy chain with more than 1,241 stores operating under the names Shoppers Drug Mart in nine provinces and two territories and Pharmaprix in Quebec as well as in Hawkesbury, Ontario....
locations. Peoples soon acquired Rea & Derick and Haag Drug. In 1984, Peoples was acquired by the Canadian conglomerate Imasco, the Canadian arm of British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
, and owner of Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation is Canada's largest pharmacy chain with more than 1,241 stores operating under the names Shoppers Drug Mart in nine provinces and two territories and Pharmaprix in Quebec as well as in Hawkesbury, Ontario....
and Pharmaprix in Canada. Peoples and its divisions had close to 800 stores and became one of the country's leading drug chains.
Sales and conversions
Over the years, the Haag stores were converted to Peoples, and Dynamic and Schuman were converted to Lane. A program was implemented to convert all stores to the Peoples Drug name. Many Lane and Rea & Derick stores were converted, all stores began selling Peoples Brand product, and began using bags with the Peoples Drug logo. Before long, Peoples decided to sell some of their stores and concentrate on the Mid Atlantic states.First to go were the Florida Shoppers Drug Mart stores, sold to Eckerd. Next was the Atlanta based Reed/Lee Drug to Big B Drugs
Big B Drugs
Big B, Inc. was a Birmingham, Alabama-based drugstore chain. The company began operation in 1968 as division of Birmingham based Bruno's Supermarkets. Most of its stores were located next to a Bruno's, Food World or FoodMax. Big B also operated a discount drugstore chain called Drugs For Less...
. The 85 store division gave Big B their entrance into the Atlanta market, a goal they had been working on for years. The next sale was Lane drug to Rite Aid
Rite Aid
Rite Aid is a drugstore chain in the United States and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, near Camp Hill. Rite Aid is the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast and the third largest drugstore chain in the U.S....
, effectve April 11, 1989. The last phase was the Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
division of Peoples being sold to management, changing the former Peoples stores to Reliable Drugs. Reliable survived only two to three years prior to being bought by Rite Aid
Rite Aid
Rite Aid is a drugstore chain in the United States and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, near Camp Hill. Rite Aid is the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast and the third largest drugstore chain in the U.S....
.
Sale to CVS
After the dust settled from the sales, Imasco decided to unload the Peoples Drug chain, as Peoples was not performing at the level Imasco had hoped. In late 1990, CVS CorporationCVS Corporation
CVS Pharmacy, or simply CVS, is the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States , with over 7,000 stores in 41 states and Puerto Rico...
purchased Peoples. CVS kept the Peoples Drug name in place, remodeled most stores to the CVS format and improved the stores' sales. The Peoples name was considered to be too strong a name to change it to CVS/pharmacy immediately. The name did ultimately change in May 1994, just a few months before the Peoples Drug name would have celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Further reading
- Peoples Drug Store Annual Reports 1965-1983
- Imasco Enterprises Annual Reports 1984-1990
- Melville Corporation Annual Reports 1991-1995
- "The Chain Welder", Peoples Drug Company Magazine 1920-1937
- "Employee Handbook" Peoples Drug, August 1979