Rexall’s Sylvan Lake footprint grew more than three-fold this week.
The pharmacy store moved into new premises on Monday, with its grand opening Saturday.
Paul Chidley, Rexall’s divisional vice-president of operations for Western Canada, said the local store’s new 4635 50th St. building consists of 11,000 square feet. That’s up from 3,200 square feet at its old 5031 50th St. address.
The bigger and brighter space allows Rexall to increase the services and programs it offers, said Chidley, including in-store health clinics on topics like hypertension, smoking cessation and diabetes.
“We’ve got expanded patient counselling facilities within the pharmacy so that pharmacists can have some great one-on-one talks and do med reviews with their patients,” he said.
The store’s cosmetics department is much larger, said Chidley.
“It’s probably about 25 per cent of the space.”
Rexall’s offerings of over-the-counter products, vitamins, convenience foods, dairy products and household items are also greatly expanded, he said.
“We’re probably doubling the amount that we’re carrying, just because of the space.”
Staffing has jumped to 22 full- and part-time employees from about a dozen previously, said Chidley.
The decision to expand Rexall’s presence in Sylvan Lake “made good business sense,” he said.
Hours of operation at the new store are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Rexall is owned by Katz Group Canada Ltd. The Edmonton-based company’s other banners are Pharma Plus, Rexall Pharma Plus, The Medicine Shoppe, Guardian and I.D.A.