EAST ALTON — The newest store in town looks to be the perfect prescription for residents.
Village officials welcomed Walgreens on Monday with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration. The store officially opened its doors on Friday.
"We’re pleased they’re here," East Alton Mayor Fred Bright said.
Bright attended the ceremony with village trustees and other department heads.
Chuck Berry, district manager for Walgreens, welcomed everyone to the new location.
"We look forward to being in East Alton," Berry said. "The key is to be a good neighbor to the community."
After cutting the ribbon, Village Clerk Lori Palmer shouted, "Time to shop."
Store manager Davor Konjicija thanked everyone and offered a store tour.
The 14,800-square-foot store features high ceilings and large windows in the front, providing a sense of openness and avoiding the cramped feeling found in many of the chain’s pharmacies, which double as merchandise marts.
Konjicija said Walgreens strives to keep the business oriented toward the pharmacy by offering on-site flu shots and a drive-through window for picking up prescriptions.
"If any of you want to get your flu shot today, we would be happy to assist," he said.
He said Walgreens closed its Wood River store at 18 W. Edwardsville Road, but most of the employees transferred to the new location.
Konjicija said the store employs about 25 people, and he anticipates they will hire more within the next several months.
Sherri Flannery, a community leader with Walgreens who helps coach managers at six locations — East Alton, Wood River, Bethalto, Alton (two locations) and Edwardsville — said the store is a new prototype for Walgreens and is considered more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly compared to the previous location. She said there are closed-circuit TV monitors throughout the store, and shoppers can check themselves out on monitors in all the aisles.
Carolyn Lewis of Godfrey was one of the first shoppers to check out Monday. She said she liked the new store.
"I think it’s pretty," Lewis said. "I especially like the floors."
Lewis said her daughter lived in East Alton, and she always shopped at the Wood River location.
"I’m really pleased to see all the employees from that store here," she said.
She said the store had a similar layout, and she was able to find what she needed conveniently.
The new store includes all of the same products and services as the old store.
Bright said Larry Manns was proactive in bringing the project to the community.
Larry Manns Properties announced in January that it struck a $5 million commercial development deal to build the store at East Alton Plaza at West St. Louis Avenue and Illinois Route 3.
Manns said the village did not furnish any funding for the project. Manns Properties, Blackstone and Walgreens will share in the project’s infrastructure costs, which include utilities and access construction.
East Alton Plaza is occupied by both commercial businesses and government offices, including Aaron’s, Wholesale Carpet, Southwest Illinois WorkNet Center, Madison County Employment and Training Department, State of Illinois Unemployment Office, Illinois Department of Human Services and Illinois Department of Rehabilitative Services.
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