Meet Fred: New pharmacy owner to hold meet and greet

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By Christina Scanlon

New floors are in and shelving is up and the doors will open soon to the newest Granville business.

Pharmacist Fred Doltz is set to renew the personal approach to care in his about-to-open Fred’s Granville Pharmacy, with more than a decade of experience in both personal and not-so personal interaction.

It was seven years as district manager for a chain pharmacy, overseeing 25 to 30 stores, that had Doltz removed from the public.

“It was all aspects of the business, not the people,” he said he learned on that job.

He spent the last four years honing those skills in a different position, as he established a customer base at a newly opened chain pharmacy in the region.

While he then had the feel for a return to community, there were still some barriers in the corporate world.

“I couldn’t sponsor a Little League team or give to a charity walk,” he said. “Those are the types of things I want to bring to Granville.”

As the owner of the new store, he’ll be able to do that.

The store has been in the works since February, and really could have gone anywhere. Why Granville?

“This community needed it the most,” he said of researching many villages in the area.

The name, Fred’s Granville Pharmacy, was an easy selection.

“I’m Fred,” he said, “and this store belongs to Granville.”

He’ll be working alongside his wife, Stacey. They reside in West Fort Ann with their children, who he plans on having help out as well.

“It’s really a family business,” he said.

In addition to prescriptions, they’ll be offering typical goods found in pharmacies, such as items for health and beauty, cough and cold, stomach, incontinence, family planning, vitamins, herbal remedies, and baby needs.

He’s planned an informal “Meet the Pharmacist” Monday through Friday next week, inviting the public to come in and introduce themselves. He’ll be stocking shelves in the 2,000-square-foot space, located next to AJ’s in the Big Lots plaza.

Doltz said it’s a great time to get your name and information in the system, ask questions and start that one-on-one relationship.

The store will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Doltz is planning on Saturday hours from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., but may tweak them according to customer needs.

While there is no drive-thru for prescriptions, “that doesn’t mean I can’t walk your prescription out to your car,” he said.

There’s no firm opening date, as he awaits the go-ahead from insurance companies. He anticipates opening the first or second week of November.

For more information call the pharmacy at 642-FRED.