MR. Z'S OPENS PHARMACY, SUPERCENTER

CAROL ANGRISANI

SUNBURY, Pa. -- Mr. Z's supermarkets has opened its first pharmacy, and plans to have at least one more in operation by next year.

The 19-store retailer, which is owned by Weis Markets here, opened the pharmacy in its first supercenter, which debuted in Stroud Township. Another pharmacy is slated to open in East Stroudsburg next year. It will be located in a new 49,000- to 55,000-square- foot Mr. Z's that will replace a smaller Mr. Z's located nearby.

Stanley Zuba, operations manager of Mr. Z's, said the chain is opening pharmacies to provide more services to its customers.

"Having a pharmacy helps attract more customers to the store," said Zuba. "It helps make it a one-stop shopping center."

The pharmacies are part of a $105 million expansion by Weis Markets, which currently operates 75 pharmacies, according to Dennis Curtin, public relations director at Weis. In 1995, Weis will open nine new stores and remodel nine existing locations. Next year, 15 new stores are planned to be built and four others remodeled. All new stores will contain pharmacies.

"We've been successful with our existing 75 pharmacies, and plan to keep them rolling [out]," said Richard Kunkle, vice president of pharmacy operations at Weis.

Kunkle said the Stroud Township pharmacy is doing "very good," though he declined to give sales figures.

Weis' pharmacies, which range in size from 550 to 600 square feet, feature a consulting area, free blood pressure testing and a health care center that offers a variety of support services, such as hospital supplies and glucose monitoring systems, according to Kunkle.