Murphy’s Pharmacies will offer a pharmacy, food market and health centre at 418 Queen St. in Charlottetown, the location that used to be home to a Co-op grocery store.
The new store is scheduled to open Friday.
It features 20,000 square feet of space that includes a full service pharmacy (which existed before), doctor’s offices, a large selection of retail products and a food market with local bakery products, meats, produce and a Receiver Coffee Bar.
“We’re going to be offering accessible health care services, food market, a strong focus on local food products, a medical centre and a team of health-care providers – three physicians, a nurse practitioner,’’ said Ryan Murphy, president of Murphy’s Pharmacies.
“We’re really hoping for this to be a community hub, beyond a health-care hub, a community spot that not only provides accessible health care but every day convenience items for local residents.’’
As for the physicians, Charlottetown doctors Randy MacKinnon, Paul Corney and George Carruthers are moving their practices into the new Queen Street location. They’ll be joined by nurse practitioner Shana Gallant and their supporting team of allied health professionals, including mental health counsellors, diabetes nurse educators and dieticians. They will be moving from their current offices at the Parkdale Medical Centre to the new Queen Street Medical Centre in early March.
Murphy said efforts are underway to bring new physicians in to fill the vacancies in Parkdale.
As for the grocery component, Murphy said they felt there was a need for it with Co-op having closed.
“We felt there was a need in the community based on what took place with Co-op. There was an opportunity to provide that need in particular for local residents and other residents in the Charlottetown area. We felt there was a need for those who once relied on that service.’’
Murphy said it also fits with the Murphy family philosophy of building healthier communities.
Murphy’s Pharmacies is using two suppliers for the grocery store – Harvest Wholesale and TRA Cash and carry.
Murphy said just because Co-op didn’t succeed in the location doesn’t mean this grocery store won’t work.
“We strongly believe in what we do. We are certainly very excited about the opportunity and optimistic that we will succeed. We’re really just looking to provide some additional value to the community in our mandate to build healthier communities.
“We think this (grocery component) is something that we can provide that brings great benefit to the community; that brings great value in terms of a community hub . . . the food market will bring some additional value and fill that need with respect to what Co-op offered.’’
List of local suppliers:
KJL Meats, ADL
Purity
Lady Bakers Tea
Montague Bakery
Mary’s Bakery
Receiver Coffee
Cows
Island honey
Island maple syrup
Island oats
Island oil
Omega eggs