An American pharmacy with prices like Canadian mail-order drugs - that's what the owners of the new American Discount Pharmacy say they'll be offering local residents and people throughout the state of Florida.
 The owners of the new venture say their prices on about 900 generic prescription products will be much lower than other pharmacies - and in many cases, well below an insurance co-pay.
The pharmacy plans to open its physical location in Immokalee Aug. 18 and representatives will be holding an information session at The Bean with free coffee and pastries after the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Aug. 22. The pharmacy will have an ongoing presence in the community, with a drop box for prescriptions at the offices of Ave Maria Dentistry in the town center.
"American Discount Pharmacy is honored to be able to be the first prescription service for Ave Maria," said Ron Shimko, a pharmacist who is one of the store's founders.
"We're different from other pharmacies because we publish a complete price list of more than 900 generic drugs, and we don't require any special memberships or extra fees for people to take advantage of those prices," Mr. Shimko said. The price list can be found on the store's website here.
 The pharmacy will sell brand-name prescription drugs such as Lipitor as well, Mr. Shimko said, and the Immokalee store also will offer veterinary medicine and over-the-counter products, along with a limited amount of food and Christian-themed clothing. (Left, the waiting area which Mr. Shimko will have a "Starbucks atmosphere.")
Ave Maria residents wishing to use the pharmacy can either leave their prescription in the drop box at Ave Maria Dentistry, where there will be a daily pick-up, take it to the Immokalee store, or have the prescription sent electronically, by fax or phoned in.
The Immokalee store is a prototype for what the founders hope will be a national organization, Mr. Shimko said.
"Our goal is to have at least one in every state," he said.
The store will be the closest pharmacy to Ave Maria, about seven miles from the town center. The store is next to the new Family Dollar on Main St. in Immokalee, at Immokalee Rd. Hours will be 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday. In addition to the information session at The Bean Aug. 22, there will be a "grand opening" at the store Saturday, Aug. 21, with pizza and other activities.
Click here for a WINK-TV story from June on American Discount Pharmacy.
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