GIANT EAGLE PRESCRIBES A GROWTH TONIC: PHARMACIES

CHAPIN CLARK / Additional reporting: DAN ALAIMO

PITTSBURGH -- Giant Eagle here has significantly increased its pharmacy presence in the Cleveland market.

The chain, which now operates 204 stores in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia, opened nine pharmacies earlier this month in former Stop-n-Shop stores in the Cleveland area that previously did not have them.

The stores were among 53 Stop-n-Shops converted to the Giant Eagle banner Sept. 16 as part of Giant Eagle's acquisition of Riser Foods, Bedford Heights, Ohio, last year. Stop-n-Shop was a 40-year-old Cleveland banner used by Riser.

Prior to the conversion, Giant Eagle operated 113 pharmacies in its stores, according to the retailer's Web site.

Giant Eagle officials declined to comment. In a prepared statement, Anthony Rego, vice chairman, said, "The new services and new brands, the Giant Eagle Advantage Card and expanded hours of operation are just the start of what shoppers in northeast Ohio will see as a part of this transition."

SN visited one of the new pharmacies, at 22160 Center Ridge Road in Rocky River, the day it opened. The department, located right inside the store's main entrance, is 1,000 square feet, including a 64-square-foot waiting room where customers can have their blood pressure tested free.

Pharmacy employees were handing out promotional items with the pharmacy's name and phone number. A flier with accompanying coupon offered $10 off a grocery purchase with any new or transferred prescription.