Weirick’s Pharmacy in Colfax, currently in its 110th year as a family-owned and operated business, has been sold to Georgia-based Benzer Pharmacy.
Owner and pharmacist Brenda Weirick Pierce confirmed the sale last week. Weirick Pierce said juggling the duties of a pharmacist with the demands of running a small business regulated by both state and federal governments became too complex and physically taxing.
She plans to take a year off, relax and look for “what I’m going to do next,” Weirick Pierce said.
“I have loved every day (at Weirick’s), but it’s just becoming a struggle. It was the right time. This is going to be a huge improvement for the community and definitely for my patients,” Weirick Pierce said. “(Benzer) will be more progressive and offer new things that maybe I don’t.”
Benzer is slated to take over operation of the pharmacy Sept. 12.
According to Benzer Pharmacy Acquisitions Manager Carly Tietz, all current Weirick’s staff will remain but under new lead pharmacist Katie Hassebroek.
The Weirick’s name will change to Benzer Pharmacy within 60 to 90 days of the transition, however, Tietz said the majority of the pharmacy — including the store’s historic soda fountain and its partnership with neighboring Colfax Medical Associates — will remain unchanged.
“There are not many changes that happen when Benzer acquires a pharmacy, especially when we go into a small town,” Tietz said.
Benzer Pharmacy owners Alpesh Patel and Manish Patel opened Benzer’s first location in Michigan in 2009. Since that time, the company has grown to roughly 60 pharmacies in 10 states. The Weirick’s acquisition will be Benzer’s first brick and mortar location in Iowa.
Weirick’s celebrated its 110th year as a single family-owned pharmacy this year. It was founded by H.A. Weirick in 1906. Brenda’s grandfather George S. Weirick took over the pharmacy in 1928, and Brenda’s father George T. Weirick took ownership in 1948.
Brenda began working at the drugstore as a registered pharmacist in 1983.Contact Mike Mendenhall at mmendenhall@jaspercountytribune.com