Beginning March 18, the Staley’s Pharmacy in downtown Ironton will reopen as Fruth Pharmacy.

The Ninth Street Staley’s will not reopen, but patient information will be transferred to the Fruth database.

This comes a little more than three months after Fruth’s grand opening of its first location in Ironton across from the St. Mary’s Medical Center, Ironton Campus, on State Route 141.

“We don’t plan to change a lot,” said Lynne Fruth, chairman of the board and president of Fruth. “It will still have the same feel of a small, downtown pharmacy.”

Fruth said talks with the Staley family began about six months ago when Fruth was preparing to build in Ironton.

“Once we started getting ready to open, I talked to Mr. (Jim) Staley to find out what his future plans were,” Fruth said.

Fruth said she told Staley when he was ready to retire, her company would like to purchase that business.

A short time later, Fruth said, Staley expressed interest in the deal, but had a few conditions.

“I have so much respect for him,” Fruth said. “His primary concern was to make sure someone would continue to take care of his patients at the same level they did, and what would happen to his employees.”

All employees, including Jim Staley and his sister Dee, were offered positions to stay on at Fruth, at either the downtown location or the State Route 141 location. Fruth said three pharmacists, some technicians and most of the cashiers chose to stay on as employees, as well as the delivery driver.

Fruth said Jim wanted to take time off to spend with his family, but said he still has a job waiting for him if he wants to return.

Dee is planning to open her own business, called Pack Horse, in honor of her avocation of owning and showing quarter horses. She plans to open on March 18 with her husband.

“We are not sold out. We have merged,” Dee said. “I am taking the Fenton glass, gift ware, Checkfree payment bill paying center and starting a new business.”

Pack Horse will be located at 309 S. Third St. in Ironton, and will also be a USP and FEDEX shipper.

“It is a little hole in the wall but people have to start somewhere,” Dee said.

Fruth said the downtown pharmacy will be remodeled the weekend of March 15, with new flooring, shelving and new merchandise. She also said some work, such as painting, has been ongoing over the last few weeks.

“It will have a fresh new look and quite a bit more merchandise to pick from,” Fruth said. “We think it will be a very good addition to downtown.”

Fruth said customers can expect the same level of service that Staley’s provided, and those customers’ prescriptions can be filled at any Fruth Pharmacy, not just the downtown location.

Customers will also be able to join a $4 generic prescription club and have access to a loyal card program.

Those new to the loyal program will receive 300 bonus points. It takes 500 points to receive the first reward. The card also gives 15 percent off over the counter generic items, Fruth said.