Brooks Pharmacy

{{Short description|American pharmacy chain}} {{Infobox company | name = Brooks Pharmacy | logo = Brooks Pharmacy.svg | logo_size = 220px | type = Pharmacy | foundation = {{Start date and age|1932}} | defunct = {{End date|2007|06|04}} | fate = Acquired by Rite Aid | parent = Revco (1994)<br>Jean Coutu Group (1994–2007) | key_people = Mary Sammons (president and CEO) | location = Warwick, Rhode Island, U.S. }}

'''Brooks Pharmacy''' was a chain of more than 330 pharmacies located throughout New England and New York and was a well-recognized name in the New England pharmacy industry for several decades. The corporate headquarters were located in Warwick, Rhode Island.

During its heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Brooks was one of the premier regional drug chains in the United States, and was the second largest drug chain in New England, maintaining an especially strong presence in the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. In 2002, Brooks was recipient of the 2002 Rex Awards Regional Chain of the Year.<ref>[https://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3374/is_16_24/ai_94673304 2002 Rex Awards - drug retailers | Drug Store News | Find Articles at BNET.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

However, Brooks faced many difficulties between 2004 and 2006, as its parent company struggled unsuccessfully to integrate 1,500 Eckerd stores acquired from J.C. Penney with the existing Brooks network, resulting in a steady loss of market share and lagging same-store sales as CVS and Walgreens continued to expand and solidify their store base in the New England region. On June 4, 2007, Brooks Pharmacy officially announced the sale of the pharmacies to Rite Aid. The Brooks trade name, long associated with New England drug retailing, was retired.

==History== ===Beginnings=== Brooks Pharmacy's roots are traced back to the defunct Adams Drug Company of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, a family owned operation founded in 1933 by the Salmanson family.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charles Salmanson Obituary (2008) - Providence, RI - The Providence Journal |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/providence/name/charles-salmanson-obituary?id=16291984 |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref> Adams acquired several stores under the Brooks Drug banner in Vermont and New York, and also operated stores under several other trade names throughout the Northeast.

===Sale to Pantry Pride=== In 1984, Pantry Pride, a Florida-based supermarket chain, acquired the Adams Drug for $100 million. The acquisition included 420 stores in 10 Northeast states, 70% of which operated under the Brooks name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1984-10-08 |title=Pantry Pride Buying Adams Drug: New Business, New Geographic Market |url=https://insights.citeline.com//PS007291/PANTRY-PRIDE-BUYING-ADAMS-DRUG-NEW-BUSINESS-NEW-GEOGRAPHIC-MARKET/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Insights |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-10-05 |title=Pantry Pride Bid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/05/business/pantry-pride-bid.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-10-03 |title=Adams Drug Backs $100 Million Offer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/03/business/adams-drug-backs-100-million-offer.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The following year, corporate raider Ronald Perelman engineered a takeover of Revlon, and all of Pantry Pride's assets, including Adams, were moved to the new company.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1985-06-12 |title=Shareholders Vote to Sell Control of Pantry Pride |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-06-12-fi-6247-story.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Prokesch |first=Steven E. |date=1985-08-28 |title=Pantry Pride Chairman Hunts Biggest Prey Yet |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/28/business/pantry-pride-chairman-hunts-biggest-prey-yet.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 5, 1985 |title=Pantry Pride Inc. Tuesday formally took control of Revlon... - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/11/05/Pantry-Pride-Inc-Tuesday-formally-took-control-of-Revlon/7044500014800/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> In 1986, all Adams stores were converted to the Brooks trade name. For a period of time, ownership of Brooks was continually transferred between different Perelman-owned subsidiaries, including California-based Compact Video.

===Acquisition by Hook-SupeRx=== Perelman sold Brooks to the Indianapolis, Indiana-based Hook-SupeRx drug chain in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hook’s Drug Stores Archive, CA. 1925-1998 (BULK 1963-1992) |url=https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/hooks-drug-stores-archive.pdf |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=Indiana Historical Society}}</ref> Under Hook-SupeRx, Brooks assumed a new management team with Gayl W. Doster as COO, William Welsh in charge of operations, and David Morocco in charge of purchasing. They attempted to modernize the store base and turn around what had become a struggling chain. In 1991, Brooks developed the innovative RxWatch computerized prescription service.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 1991 |title=Brooks ad wins three awards. (Brooks Pharmacy) |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-10864359.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125022615/http://www.highbeam.com/doc.aspx?DOCID=1G1:10864359&tab=lib |archive-date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=Chain Drug Review |via=HighBeam Research}}</ref> In 1992, Brooks began an aggressive attempt to expand into the New York City suburbs in the lower Hudson Valley and southwestern Connecticut. By 1993, it has 77 stores in New York and 356 overall.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 1, 1993 |title=Brooks augments presence in N.Y. (Brooks Pharmacy; New York City, New York) |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-13614183.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125214006/http://www.highbeam.com/doc.aspx?DOCID=1G1:13614183&tab=lib |archive-date=January 25, 2013 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=Chain Drug Review |via=HighBeam Research}}</ref>

===Sale to Revco and Jean Coutu=== In 1994, Revco acquired Brooks as part of its larger purchase of the Hook-SupeRx chain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 4, 1994 |title=Revco to acquire Hook-SupeRx - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/04/04/Revco-to-acquire-Hook-SupeRx/9716765432000/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> At the time, the Brooks store base stretched from Maine to Maryland. Revco had no interest in operating the Brooks outlets in New England due to the company's positioning in the market. As a result, that same year, Revco sold 221 Brooks stores in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as the Brooks warehouse and distribution facility in Connecticut, to the Quebec-based Jean Coutu Group for $147.5 million.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=1994-07-20 |title=Company News; Revco Plans To Sell 272 Hook-Superx Stores |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/20/business/company-news-revco-plans-to-sell-272-hook-superx-stores.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Jean Coutu had already been operating stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts through its U.S. subsidiary, under the Maxi Drug and Douglas Drug trade names.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1994-09-13 |title=Other News - Sept. 13, 1994 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-13-fi-38048-story.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ringer |first=Richard |date=1994-09-13 |title=Company News; Canadian Group to Buy 221 Brooks Drugstores From Revco |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/09/13/business/company-news-canadian-group-to-buy-221-brooks-drugstores-from-revco.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Revco continued to operate 96 Brooks stores in New York and 31 in Pennsylvania,<ref name=":1" /> which later assumed the Revco banner. Jean Coutu rebranded its Maxi and Douglas stores as Brooks, which also became the trade name of Jean Coutu Group USA. However, some former Maxi stores were placed under the combined Brooks-Maxi banner.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Chutchian |first=Kenneth |date=1997-09-25 |title=Downeast Pharmacy last month sold three of its stores to Brooks Pharmacy, now pa |url=https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/news_times/2751 |journal=Maine News Index – Maine Times}}</ref>

Under the management of Jean Coutu, Brooks was successful for several years, growing and acquiring smaller chains<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-08-04 |title=Brooks Pharmacy Buys Russell's Drug Store |url=https://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/brooks-pharmacy-buys-russells-drug-store/article_d90e227f-9079-575d-97c4-6d5a50ad45d7.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Caledonian Record |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2004-04-03 |title=Brooks Buys Pelton's Drug Stores |url=https://www.courant.com/2004/04/03/brooks-buys-peltons-drug-stores/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Hartford Courant |language=en-US}}</ref> and pieces of larger chains throughout the New England region. In 1995, Brooks acquired 30 Rite Aid locations in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In exchange, Brooks sold 18 stores in Maine to Rite Aid. Brooks retained 121 stores in Massachusetts and 48 in Rhode Island.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=1995-07-28 |title=Rite Aid Drugstore Swap |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/28/business/rite-aid-drugstore-swap.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1999, Brooks acquired the Burlington, Vermont-based City Drug chain, increasing its Vermont store count to 30 and re-entering the New York market for the first time since the 1994 Revco acquisition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=P. B. N. |date=1999-03-22 |title=Rhode Island News Briefs |url=https://pbn.com/rhode-island-news-briefs1298/ |access-date=2025-07-26 |website=Providence Business News |language=en-US}}</ref> By 2001, Brooks had 250 stores in six states. That December, the chain purchased 80 Osco Drug stores in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire from Albertson's.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Press |first=The Associated |date=2001-12-07 |title=Company News; Albertson's To Sell 80 Osco Drug Stores To Maxi Drug |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/07/business/company-news-albertson-s-to-sell-80-osco-drug-stores-to-maxi-drug.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2001 |title=Supermarket chain sells Osco pharmacies |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/business/2001/12/08/supermarket-chain-sells-osco-pharmacies/50982266007/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Cape Cod Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Merger with Eckerd=== Shortly after the Osco acquisition, President Michel Coutu made a commitment to significantly increase the size of the chain by the year 2004. This expansion was accomplished in August 2004 with Coutu's acquisition of about 1,539 Eckerd Pharmacies as well as Eckerd's headquarters in Largo, Florida, from its then-parent company, J.C. Penney.<ref name="HttpwwwsptimescomBusinessDeal_has__firms_splishtml">{{cite web |last=Albright |first=Mark |date=April 2, 2004 |title=Business: Deal has 2 firms splitting Eckerd |url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/02/Business/Deal_has_2_firms_spli.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040414114213/http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/02/Business/Deal_has_2_firms_spli.shtml |archive-date=April 14, 2004 |access-date=2012-06-13 |publisher=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2003-10-15 |title=Company News; J.C. Penney Discussing Sale Of Eckerd To Jean Coutu |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/15/business/company-news-jc-penney-discussing-sale-of-eckerd-to-jean-coutu.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Shortly after the acquisition, Brooks-Eckerd announced plans to build a $30 million headquarters in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Future of planned Brooks headquarters uncertain |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/business/2007/02/04/future-planned-brooks-headquarters-uncertain/49614266007/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=New Bedford Standard-Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

By 2005, Coutu had merged the operations of the Brooks and Eckerd chains together at Brooks headquarters in Warwick, Rhode Island, shuttering the former Eckerd headquarters in Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Albright |first=Mark |date=April 6, 2004 |title=Buyout ends Eckerd in Fla. |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2004/04/06/buyout-ends-eckerd-in-fla/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Albright |first=Mark |date=August 2, 2004 |title=After 52 years, Eckerd now part of history |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2004/08/02/after-52-years-eckerd-now-part-of-history/ |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> Between 2005 and 2006, Coutu ran into many difficulties integrating the Brooks and Eckerd chains together, and as a result, Coutu's Brooks and Eckerd outlets experienced a significant decline in market share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2006 |title=Jean Coutu profit drops as chain struggles with U.S. venture |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/jean-coutu-profit-drops-as-chain-struggles-with-u-s-venture-1.569833 |access-date=July 25, 2025 |website=CBC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2006-08-05 |title=Eckerd woes sink profit at Coutu |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/eckerd-woes-sink-profit-at-coutu/article18169849/ |access-date=2025-07-26 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref>

===Acquisition by Rite Aid=== In August 2006, Rite Aid announced it would buy Jean Coutu's US division, consisting of the Eckerd and Brooks chains, for $2.55 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sorkin |first=Andrew Ross |date=2006-08-23 |title=Rite Aid to Buy Brooks/Eckerd Drugstore Chain |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/23/business/23cnd-drug.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sorkin |first=Andrew Ross |last2=Barbaro |first2=Michael |date=2006-08-24 |title=Rite Aid Confirms Purchase of Brooks and Eckerd |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/24/business/24cnd-drug.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The acquisition included 1,854 stores, six distribution centers, and made Rite Aid the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast. In 2007, Rite Aid acquired 31 Brooks stores in Vermont.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barlow |first=Daniel |date=2007-06-05 |title=Rite Aid completes Brooks purchase |url=https://www.rutlandherald.com/news/rite-aid-completes-brooks-purchase/article_82c2c5ea-80d9-5cdf-b88f-e4b76fff08f7.html |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Rutland Herald |language=en}}</ref> All Brooks and Eckerd locations were either rebranded as Rite Aid, sold, or closed, and its proposed Rhode Island headquarters was abandoned.<ref name=":3" />

The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) USA, Inc. (the company retained this name despite its divestiture by PJC in 2007) remained an active in-name-only subsidiary of Rite Aid, along with Eckerd Corporation, as shown in the latter company's October 2023 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bkdata.com/business-bankruptcies/trenton-newjersey/10-15-2023/the-pjc-19109|title=The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) USA, Inc. Files For Bankruptcy|date=October 15, 2023|access-date=October 16, 2023|website=BKData|language=en}}</ref>

On May 5, 2025, Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in 2 years, listing assets and liabilities between $1 billion and $10 billion. Rite Aid will sell all of its assets as part of its procedure, as it overcomes financial challenges such as debt, increased competition, and inflation, including Brooks Pharmacy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/rite-aid-intends-file-second-bankruptcy-announces-job-cuts-bloomberg-news-2025-05-05/|title=Rite Aid files for second bankruptcy in two years|first=Dietrich|last=Knauth|date=May 5, 2025|access-date=May 5, 2025|website=Reuters|language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060902091607/http://www.brooks-rx.com/ Brooks Pharmacy website]

{{Rite Aid}}

Category:CVS Health Category:Rite Aid Category:Defunct pharmacies of the United States Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023 Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2025 Category:Retail companies established in 1932 Category:Retail companies disestablished in 2007 Category:2007 disestablishments in Rhode Island Category:1932 establishments in Rhode Island Category:Health care companies based in Rhode Island