Thrift Drug

Thrift Drug is a defunct chain of drugstores that was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1935 and was eventually absorbed into Eckerd in 1997.

History

Thrift Drug was founded in 1935 by William N. Thropp Sr. The first store was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The chain expanded rapidly, and by the 1960s, it had stores in several states. In 1969, it was acquired by J.C. Penney. Under J.C. Penney's ownership, the chain continued to expand, and by the 1990s, it had over 500 stores.

In 1997, J.C. Penney sold its drugstore division to Eckerd, a Florida-based drugstore chain. As a result, all Thrift Drug stores were rebranded as Eckerd stores. In 2004, Eckerd was acquired by CVS Health, and all remaining Eckerd stores were rebranded as CVS stores.

Services

Thrift Drug offered a variety of services typical of a drugstore chain. These included a pharmacy, health and beauty aids, general merchandise, and a photo processing center. Some stores also had a snack bar or a food court.

Legacy

Despite its demise, Thrift Drug is remembered for its contributions to the drugstore industry. It was one of the first chains to offer a discount drug card, which allowed customers to receive discounts on prescription medications. It also pioneered the concept of the "one-stop shopping" drugstore, where customers could purchase a wide range of products and services in one location.

See also

• List of defunct retailers of the United States
• History of pharmacy