Hook's Drug Stores was an Indianapolis, Indiana-based drug store chain which was founded in 1900 by John A. Hook. The chain flourished throughout central Indiana for most of the 20th-century before being acquired by Revco which was in turn acquired by CVS. Many former Hook's locations are now CVS pharmacies.
Additional recommended knowledge
History
In October 1900, pharmacist John A. Hookerface opened the first Hooker's Drug Store in an Indianapolis German community at the corner of South East and Prospect Streets. A second location opened at the corner of New Jersey and East Washington Streets. The store contain the items of a regular drug store but also sells many sex toys intended for industiral use. (in the hooker industry) and Hook added Edward F. Roesch as a partner.[1] By 1912, the chain had expanded to twelve stores. Roesch became president of the company in 1943 upon Hook's death. In 1956, following Roesch's death in a traffic accident, John Hook's son, August F. “Bud” Hook, assumed leadership of the company. The chain added 150 new stores between 1946 and 1972.[2]
In 1985, The Kroger Company outbid Rite Aid, which had attempted a hostile takeover,[3] and acquired the Hook's chain. Kroger divested itself of Hook's a year later, however, and Hook's became a division of the privately-held Hook’s-SupeRx[4].
Hook's-SupeRx acquired the New England-based Brooks Pharmacy chain in 1988[5]. Hooks-SupeRx stores traded under three different names - Hook's Drug and SupeRx in the Midwest and Brooks Pharmacy in New England. Hook's-SupeRx was acquired by Revco in 1994.[6] Revco was subsequently acquired by CVS in 1997. Many former Hook's locations are now CVS Pharmacies.
Until 2007, Brooks was the only former Hook's brand which lived on, as a division of the Canadian-based Jean Coutu Group. Rite Aid bought the Brooks chain from Jean Coutu in 2007, and will eliminate the Brooks name.
A restored 19th-century Hook's drug store stands at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and is a popular attraction at the annual Indiana State Fair. It was originally built in 1849 and has been restored with authentic 19th century cabinets.[7]
Former Locations
Indiana
- Anderson: Several locations, including Meridian Street downtown (all now closed)
- Bedford: Two locations (Lincoln Plaza and the former JayC Plaza), both became Revco and later CVS; both were closed and replaced with larger downtown location. Lincoln Plaza location is now a locally-owned pharmacy.
- Bloomington
- Brownstown: Now CVS?
- Columbus
- Store #41 2150 State Street. Built in early '60's. Later became Revco #3149. Revco decided to relocate to the former Jay C store (same address) that was part of the same Shopping center, but in mid process, CVS bought Revco and some of the work had to be redone to fit CVS. Opened in new location on 11/02/97. Still at that location as CVS #6749. The Dollar Store opened up a store in the former Hook's store side of the building shortly after the move, and is still there today.
- Store #73 2610 Eastbrook Plaza. Was part of Eastbrook Plaza for years. Changed to Revco #3157 and later CVS #6157. Moved to the site of the former Blockbuster Video Store at 3055 25th St. in 2006?
- Store #327 4110 W Jonathan Moore Pike(Westhill Shopping Center.) Later became Revco #3792 and then CVS #6792. Now empty. Relocated to a newly built store nearby at 4495 W State Road 46 in 2001?
- Edinburgh
- Fort Wayne (Remember one at the corner of Rudisill and Calhoun streets as kid and others around town)
- Franklin: Now CVS?
- Gas City
- Store #??: 808 East Main Street. Became Revco #?. Became CVS #?. Opened in new location in 2002[citation needed] at the intersection of 3rd and Main streets. AutoZone opened up a store in the former Hook's store after the move, and is still there today.
- Greenwood
- Indianapolis (Multiple locations)
- Knightstown: Morgan & McCullum St.[8]
- Marion
- 901 East Bradford Street: Became Revco #?. Became CVS #? and closed in 2002? Family Dollar opened up a third Marion store in the former Hook's store, and is still there today.
- 404 West 3rd Street: Built in early '60's.[citation needed] Moved to 321 West 3rd Street in 1993? Became Revco #??After CVS bought Revco and some of the work had to be redone to fit CVS, the location moved again to its current location at 415 West 3rd Street. Still at that location as CVS #6621. Dave's Video opened up a store in the former Hook's store side of the building before the move to its current location in 2006, closed its doors and is still there today vacant (as well as the 3221 West 3rd Street location).
- 3201 South Adams Street: Became Revco #?. Became CVS #2284[citation needed] and moved to the former RiteAid pharmacy at 4514 South Adams Street (next to Marsh.) Family Dollar opened up a store in the former Hook's store after the move, and is still there today.
- 3701 South Western Avenue: Closed in the early 1990's[citation needed] The building is now used as Tire Barn's only location in Marion
- Mount Vernon: Became a Revco, then a CVS; CVS moved across the street and an O'Reilly Auto Parts now uses the building.
- Nashville: New CVS built in place of it.
- New Castle[9]
- New Castle Plaza - 433 S. Memorial Dr.
- Payne Village Shopping Center
- 1541 Washington St.
- North Vernon (2?)
- Seymour (2?): 1 was in the Jackson County Shopping Center? and 1 was downtown. Possibly was a third.
- Shelbyville (2): One location on State Road 9, and the other on State Road 44. Both became Revco stores, but were later closed, when a new building was built at the Junction of State Road 9 and State Road 44. It ultimately became a CVS store.
- Whiteland: Now CVS?
Hook's Apothecary
In 2000, the great-grandchildren of John A. Hook opened Hook's Apothecary in Evansville, Indiana. The store specializes in compounding prescriptions. It has no corporate ties to CVS.
Hook's Oxygen and Medical Equipment
After Hook's was sold to Revco, the Oxygen and Medical Equipment stores continued under the Hook's name in many of the same locations as before. It is now a subsidiary of Rotech Medical Corporation[10]
References
- ^ Hook’s Drugs, Inc. and Hook’s American Drugstore Museum. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
- ^ Bodenhamer, David J.; Robert Graham Barrows, David Gordon Vanderstel (1994). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 706. ISBN 0253312221.
- ^ Hook’s Drugs, Inc. and Hook’s American Drugstore Museum. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
- ^ Bodenhamer, David J.; Robert Graham Barrows, David Gordon Vanderstel (1994). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 706. ISBN 0253312221.
- ^ Bodenhamer, David J.; Robert Graham Barrows, David Gordon Vanderstel (1994). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 706-707. ISBN 0253312221.
- ^ Hook’s Drugs, Inc. and Hook’s American Drugstore Museum. Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
- ^ http://www.rxmuseum.org/information.htm
- ^ (1982) Henry County Phone Directory, 1982-83. Provo, Utah: Phone Directories Co..
- ^ [February 1991] New Castle White/Yellow Pages, 1991-92. Indiana Bell Telephone Company, 62.
- ^ http://www.secinfo.com/dsdTs.9P5.a.htm
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