by Kris Wells
The Galaxy Drug Store, situated as it is on the lower mall right next to the hair salon, is starting off the new millennium with a new do of its own.
The store has expanded its space a bit, by about 200 square feet, by extending into the mall corridor. And it has entirely rearranged its innards, with the pharmacy counter now at the midpoint of the store instead of in the rear and with a slightly larger greeting card area positioned near the entrance instead of occupying just another aisle. The entrance itself has been repositioned, too, and the checkout counter now faces forward instead of toward the back of the store.
Add new carpeting to the equation, plus brighter lighting, and this looks like a brand new enterprise.
Actually, Paresh Patel, the store’s registered pharmacist, says it has been five years since he bought and took over the business, in December 1995.
This is his first store. He bought it straight from college, having finished his degree at St. John’s University, on Long Island. As a resident of the neighborhood, Paresh says, he had become familiar with the store and thought he could improve upon its management.
The main idea behind the remodeling project, he says, is better service, by putting the pharmacist himself in better position to meet and greet all comers.
"If I’m at the front,’’ Paresh said, "I can help customers with any questions, or help them with special orders and other matters.’’
Paresh, who is 31, was born in the town of Gujarat, on India’s west coast. He grew up in Queens, that famous enclave on our East Coast. His wife, Aruksha, is a co-manager of the drug store, working the cash register and doing much of the ordering. Priya Israni, like Paresh, is a pharmacist. And Suresh Patel, a distant relative, helps out at the register.
Their clientele is about 50 percent Galaxy residents, Paresh says. The store offers delivery service to the Galaxy towers, too. It is open 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and to 5 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. Telephone 453-0555.
The remodeling project started in November. But even after the last shelf is restocked and the last piece of carpet is glued down, Paresh won’t be out of ideas for drawing more shoppers into the mall and, of course, into the drug store. He is hoping that the mall will eventually have better signage at the street level. "That would help,’’ he said. "People passing by on the street don’t know there’s a mall here.’’
He has other plans, too, he said with a smile. But for now his lips are sealed.
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