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Published: Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 / Updated: Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 10:33 AM

Pharmacy prescribes hometown charm

LAKE WYLIE -- 

There’s a new pharmacy in Lake Wylie, but residents may already know the pharmacist.

Larry Meek and wife Michelle opened Lake Wylie Pharmacy on Wednesday at Shoppes at the Landing. The 1,500-square-foot space includes a drive-thru window and an admitted subtle USC Gamecock theme.

“We’re almost completely stocked,” Larry said Wednesday afternoon.

Larry, a native of Clover, will be the full-time pharmacist. He was a pharmacist for 10 years at Revco in Lake Wylie before it was purchased by CVS Pharmacy. He worked at the Lake Wylie CVS Pharmacy for almost 15 years. His wife, who he met in college at USC and graduated with in 1990, worked for Revco in Clover for 10 years before staying home to raise their two children. She’ll be at their store part time.

“I know from practicing here what people need, and that includes home delivery,” he said. “It’s going to be part of what we do.”

But restricted home delivery isn’t the only service setting “your hometown pharmacy” apart from local corporate pharmacies.

“We carry bed pans, crutches and different products,” he said, “and everything a ‘normal’ drug store has.”

If he doesn’t have it, “we can get it by 9 a.m. the next day,” Meek said.

Lake Wylie Pharmacy accepts all forms of insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid and Express Scripts Tricare Pharmacy Program. Meek said he carries the top 250 medications, “plus I know what doctors here prescribe.”

He plans to be price competitive.

“I have purchasing power of 800 stores, so I can negotiate lower pricing,” he said.

Lake Wylie Pharmacy will be offering 90 days of certain generic drugs for $12 with no enrollment fees and can flavor children’s medications for free.

“That’s just a courtesy,” he said.

This month’s special is buy one vitamin, get one free.

“Plus, every prescription enters a customer in a drawing for a 32-inch LCD flat-screen TV,” he said. The drawing will be held Feb. 11.

The reason he and his wife decided to start their own pharmacy is simple.

“The big thing is major chains are getting away from the emotional connection,” he said. “I just feel we need to provide everything in a hometown setting.”

Part of that, he said, includes being easily accessible — for example, through email linked to his cell phone.

“It’s gonna be like Mayberry,” he said, “and anything you want me to carry, I can carry.”

Glenda Williams, office manager and senior tax advisor for H&R Block nearby, said they are “thrilled” to have the pharmacy as a new neighbor and are looking forward to a shoe store opening in March.

“New people moving in helps increase foot traffic,” she said of the tax office that’s been at the Lake Wylie location for five years.

Williams knows Meek, too.

“He is so good about helping people, I’ve used him for years,” she said. “He’s such a benefit to this community.”

Lake Wylie Pharmacy, owned by Larry and Michelle Meek, is located at 221 Latitude Lane, suite 109, Lake Wylie. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. For more information, call 803-831-2044, visit lakewylierx.com, or email larry@lakewylierx.com.