Celebrating two decades of ownership
- Details
- Published on Sunday, November 9, 2014
By Sheila Runions
Banner Staff
On Oct. 31, 1994 Gary Pomeroy began his first day as pharmacist at Super Thrifty Drug Mart in Rivers. Fast forward 20 years and Halloween 2014 became an anniversary party at the store.
Two gift baskets filled with assorted merchandise available at the store (health and beauty products, food and candy, etc.) were offered as door prizes; these were won by Michelle McFadden and Bernice Elliott, both of Rivers. Patrons that day were encouraged to take “The Gary Quiz” from which the random draws were made for the baskets. Answers to the four questions are: Gary arrived in Rivers in a 1981 Camaro; he met his staff on Oct. 31 and met them all again on Nov. 1 because they were wearing costumes and he didn’t recognize them; Gary has never come to work with straight blonde hair; more than two million Tylenol and acetaminophen pills have been sold there in 20 years.
In addition to the trivia questions, a poster provided more details, such as Gary came to work that day with a costume because he expected staff were setting him up by not encouraging everyone to dress for Halloween. It took 15 years of coaxing but he finally relented and began drinking coffee five years ago. He is the only male so endures “female” conversations and walks away covering his ears. He also keeps chocolate handy and offers it if one of his staff appears to be having a bad day. And although he forbade it, they painted one wall in the “new” store (built in 2001) black.
Bob FM radio station in Brandon held a contest in which they accepted 96 words or less to explain why you deserved a Halloween party. Super Thrifty’s submission for Gary’s anniversary (the poster points mentioned above) was selected as the winner, so two radio staff appeared at the store at 11:30 a.m. with 13 wraps from Pita Central as dinner for the business. They also brought a large bowl of Halloween candy and an assortment of Halloween decorations which they put up in the store and which Super Thrifty boxed up with their own to possibly be used again next year.
The Honey House Bakery and Cafe made and decorated a slab cake with the store logo and a congratulatory message while employee Amie Griffith made a speciality cake with fondant icing which she formed into pills of different size, shape and colour. She even made a fondant label and put it on a pill bottle; the label congratulated Gary on 20 years. The slab was served to customers that afternoon; the specialty cake was reserved for Gary and staff.
The anniversary celebration continues with weeklong specials Nov. 7-15. Readers in Rivers, Oak River, Bradwardine, Cardale, Alexander and Brandon rural routes will receive a flyer listing all the deals; readers outside those towns will have to stop by the store to stock up on the savings. More cake and coffee will be served (Thursday only) and there will be another draw for a gift basket of store merchandise.
