Before the doors even opened Friday morning, people were waiting to get into the Fruth Pharmacy in Ironton.

By 10 a.m., the lines at the register were long, with folks taking advantage of bargains on everything from toilet paper to Christmas displays.

Friday was the start of a kick-off sale at the store with a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. The event marked the 26th store in the Fruth family and the first in Ironton.

“We’re letting everyone have a piece of this,” said Lynne Fruth, chairman of the board and president of the company, as staff and economic and city leaders crowded around the ceremonial ribbon and large scissors. “We are thrilled to be in Ironton.”

Groundbreaking for the 10,000-square-foot store was in June at the site across from the St. Mary’s Medical Center, Ironton Campus, on State Route 141.

Fruth said the project to build the store in Ironton was a collaborative effort between the Lawrence Economic Development Corp, the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Ironton City Council and the community as a whole.

Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship said the addition of the pharmacy is good for Ironton.

“They are providing good quality merchandise along with jobs,” Blankenship said. “It has a good family name behind it. We wish them all the success in the world.”

The new store offers prescription home delivery services to customers who qualify, a flora department, grocery items and school merchandise.

The pharmacy has an established program where 10 percent of the sales of high school athletic gear are given back to the local school districts.

“We want to be more than just a store in your town,” Fruth said.

The pharmacy also offers a scholarship for a qualifying Lawrence County high school student attending Ohio University Southern.

OUS Dean Bill Willan said the partnership between the school and the store is important for prospective students.

“Community support for local students is really important,” he said. “It makes education possible. … We really appreciate that Lynne Fruth has recognized the good that can be done by supporting education.”

The pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.