Hartig Drug opens 20th outlet

SAVANNA — Hartig Drug opened its new outlet in Savanna on Jan. 4, at the site of the former Times Video/Radio Shack at 218 Chicago Ave.

Hartig Marketing Director Jennifer Montgomery said this would be a “soft opening,” with an official grand opening to follow.

She said that “not a whole lot will change on the pharmacy end” of the store, with current Stout’s Drug owner Bruce Stout becoming the Hartig pharmacist. A front end will be added to the store which will include items like giftware and Hallmark cards. Montgomery anticipates an increase in the number of staff from what it currently is at Stout’s when the additional product line is complete.

Montgomery says that Savanna is “a nice fit (for Hartig). ... Hartig Drug has 19 locations, and Savanna will be the 20th. A lot of our stores are the ‘hometown pharmacy’ in a lot of markets, so for example, like Darlington, Wisconsin, and Prophetstown, they are much smaller communities than Dubuque, Iowa.”

Montgomery talked about the types of services and products customers might expect from the new store.

“In addition to the pharmacy and some aspects of the pharmacy that may be new. ... I don’t know the extent of what the Stout Pharmacy offers right now, but we do have programs through Hartig Drug that include a ready refill program where you can go online or call in and get your prescriptions refilled. We do offer delivery within a certain radius of most of our locations.”

Savanna’s Hartig will deliver on Tuesdays and Thursdays; presently this is just within city limits, according to President Keith Bibelhausen, but they are looking to expand this service outside the city. Hart also has a prescription savings plan to offer customers whether they have private insurance or not.

Montgomery said that Hartig also offers a “wide range of giftware,” and an “extensive line of nature made vitamins as well as at-home care products to assist people who are either recovering from procedures or just need something to make their lives easier.”

Hartig President Keith Bibelhausen visited the store on Jan. 6. He said that Stout’s Pharmacy owner Bruce Stout had contacted him about ten years ago, and was looking at an “exit strategy.” Bibelhausen said that during this time frame, he had learned about Savanna, and found that it’s size was a “sweet spot” for Hartig. He noted that keeping everything local was a “hallmark of success” and that Hartig’s people would be involved in churches and local non-profit groups.

Bibelhausen expressed his strong appreciation for the efforts of Mayor Tony McCombie, who “has been very cooperative,” and who “went out of her way” to be helpful.

Hartig will be leasing the building from owner Dennis Bowman, who recently closed shop on his Radio Shack/Time Video business.

Bibelhausen said the grand opening will likely take place in late winter or early spring. He said that he had a “great crew” in the Hartig employees, all of which transferred over from Stout’s Pharmacy.

Stout said that while the first few months will see the Hartig workers adjusting to a new computer system, workflow pattern, and policies, this would be a transition period and that everything would get better within three months. He said that the store would be “a good addition to the town. I wouldn’t have sold it to them otherwise.”

Stout said that in light of the temporary adjusting period the employees are going through, it might be a good idea for customers to call in their prescriptions a bit early in order to accommodate the somewhat longer service time that could be experienced during the transition period.

The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.