Hi-School Pharmacy returns Sept. 20

Hi-School Pharmacy, the locally based chain that sold off its Clark County branches more than a dozen years ago, is returning to its home community with the Sept. 20 opening of a store in the Minnehaha area.

The store, 3200 N.E. 52nd St., will be the first local Hi-School Pharmacy since the company sold 11 of its stores to Walgreens in 2003. It will have a drive-up prescription window and a private consultation/immunization room. The store’s 11,000-square-foot variety department will offer standard pharmacy store wares and include a Kodak photo kiosk.

A 6,200-square-foot hardware department will open in early November. It will offer paint, lawn and garden, hardware, electrical, plumbing, automotive and home decor products. The store will host a grand opening celebration after the hardware department opening.

Jim Mickenham has been named store manager, and Austin Blakeslee is the pharmacy manager.

The Sept. 20 opening event will include advertised specials and discounts, giveaways, prize drawings and other activities throughout the week. Proceeds will go to Minnehaha schools, the company said.

Store hours will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Pharmacy hours are the same as store hours Monday through Friday; the pharmacy is closed 1 to 1:30 p.m. for lunch. Saturday pharmacy hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the pharmacy is closed on Sundays.

Hi-School Pharmacy operates 30 pharmacies Oregon and Southwest Washington. Jack Holt, Hi-School’s president, said opening more local stores is “always an option,” although a local expansion is not in the company’s current plans.

“We want to get this store up and running at least a year before considering any more, but we’re always looking,” he said.