Red Cross Pharmacy to build drive-thru, remodel; demolishes adjacent building on Court Street

Jeff Schnieders Construction began demolishing the building next to the Red Cross Pharmacy on Court Street. Demolition began on Monday, July 28 and should be completed by the end of the week. The pharmacy plans to install a drivethru pharmacy lane and additional parking.
Jeff Schnieders Construction began demolishing the building next to the Red Cross Pharmacy on Court Street. Demolition began on Monday, July 28 and should be completed by the end of the week. The pharmacy plans to install a drivethru pharmacy lane and additional parking.

The Red Cross Pharmacy in downtown Fulton is adding a drive-thru for the pharmacy and remodeling the interior of the building. To make room for the drive-thru, the pharmacy is demolishing the building adjacent to it.

Jeff Schnieders Construction started the demolition of the building next door on Monday. The crew started demolishing the back end of the building first. Once the demolition team makes it to the front of the building, part of the sidewalk will be closed off on Court Street. The construction team plans to finish demolition by the end of the week.

The pharmacy is adding a few parking spaces on the side of the building near the drive-thru and the inside of the pharmacy will be remodeled.

Steve Hartwig, one of the Red Cross Pharmacy company's owners, said the drive-thru pharmacy option is popular among customers at other Red Cross locations. He said the goal of the drive-thru addition is to make the pharmacy more convenient for customer.

Hartwig said he hopes to have the space leveled by the end of August. The project's contractor, HLW Builders, said it is too soon to tell when the entire project will be completed. The pharmacy will remodel the inside of the store, too.

Pharmacy Manager John Keener said the plans for changes to the inside of the building haven't been finalized yet, but the remodel will definitely include enlarging the pharmacy space -which means decreasing the over-the-counter space - and adding semi-private cubical spaces. The cubical spaces will be used for pharmacists to consult with customers and for immunizations. Keener said the pharmacy has outgrown its work space.

"It was either move to another location or remodel this one," Keener said.

Hartwig said the company chose to make a commitment to the downtown Fulton area and remodel. Red Cross Pharmacy has been in the building on Court Street since December 2007. Hartwig said the goal of the internal remodeling is to provide a platform to expand the pharmacist's role as the pharmacy evolves to providing more than just medicine.

"The role of a pharmacist to us is being more of a health care professional," Hartwig said. "We want to be the best professional pharmacy in Fulton."

Keener said the pharmacy will stop selling gift items to have more space over-the-counter for medical supplies.