For nearly a century and a quarter, Brown’s Prescription Drugs—and its various predecessors—have provided friendly, local pharmacy services to Excelsior Springs and the surrounding areas. And when Joe Koechner buys the business this month, that’s one thing that he promises won’t change.
“I’ll be purchasing the store this month from Jim Ivie,” said Koechner, who already owns four Kex Rx pharmacies in Kansas and Nebraska, “but Jim and the rest of the staff will continue on. They’ve been doing a lot of things very well for a lot of years, and I don’t see any reason to upset that apple cart.”
Ivie has owned the business, which has roots going back to the early 1890s, since he purchased it from Larry Greim in 2001.
Koechner says he sees the purchase as a great opportunity for both his business and for the community.
“It’s a well-run store, with strong and stable employees and a good local customer base,” he said.
Kex Rx has pharmacies in the Kansas communities of Hiawatha, Horton and Atchison, as well as in Falls City, Neb. He sees the Excelsior Springs store as roughly on par with the Atchison store.
“We’re located in smaller communities, outside the metropolitan areas,” he explained.
There will be some changes in the inner workings of the store—such as different software and a different wholesaler—but customers will notice these alterations very little.
But there will be one change they will almost certainly notice: a new location.
“We’re very excited about that,” Koechner said. “We’re going to be moving into the former Bank of America building.”
That building, located just a short distance away along Kearney Road, will offer easier access in a stand-alone structure—along with a drive-through for customers on the go.
To read more, see the print edition or e-edition of the Tuesday, Dec. 8, Standard.