By Seth Schmidt
One of Tracy’s longest-established family businesses will soon have new ownership.
Maria Schleppenbach-Grogan, owner of John’s Drug in downtown Tracy, announces that she is selling the pharmacy and store to Lewis Family Drug. The change becomes effective Monday, Feb. 6. Schleppenbach-Grogan will stay on as the pharmacist in charge.
“Very little is going to change, except for the name,” explains the 1982 Tracy Area High School graduate, whose father, John, came to Tracy in 1957 and founded John’s Drug in 1966. “I’m still going to be here.”
On-going changes in the health care industry, the small business owner says, are a major factor in her decision to sell.
“We have a very good business here,” Maria shares. “We have a lot of loyal customers, and we’ve always been profitable. But I just can’t do this anymore by myself. The biggest thing is that the insurance (reimbursement) has gotten to be so overwhelming. I have to spend a lot of time on paperwork and on the phone dealing with Medicare, Medicaid and insurance reimbursement. It sometimes takes me three to four months to get paid for a prescription.”
Turning the reins of the pharmacy over to a respected group like Lewis Family Drug, Schleppenbach-Grogan feels is “a forward looking decision” that will benefit her customers, her employees, and the community.
“Lewis Drug is very small town oriented, and they take care of their customers very well. They will be able to offer some things that I haven’t been able to do as an independent.”
See this week’s Headlight-Herald for more on this article.