Lane Drug
Encyclopedia
The Lane Drug Company of Ohio (also referred to as “Lane’s Discount Drugs”, or “Lane’s), was a discount drugstore chain in the United States based in Toledo, Ohio
. The chain was acquired by Rite Aid
Corporation of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
, on April 10, 1989, and currently operates as a division of Rite Aid under the Rite Aid banner.
, across from the courthouse
, in 1922. Clerks would retrieve items for customers from tall shelves accessed by ladders hanging from the ceilings. Several more stores were added over the next several years, including a location on Summit Street strategically located across from the popular Tiedtke’s Department Store. In 1938, Lane’s opened its first air conditioned super store on Sylvania Avenue allowing customers the convenience of self service and a soda fountain
.
In 1952, Lane’s built a new warehouse
at Detroit and Dura Avenues in Toledo in anticipation of future expansion in the area.
In 1953, Lane’s entered South Toledo, opening a store at 1601 Broadway, at the corner of South Avenue, to much fanfare and featuring prescriptions, cosmetics
, sundries, cigars and tobaccos, hardware, paint
, toy
and camera
departments. At this time the chain employed a total of 350 people.
By 1961, additional locations included Parkway Plaza in Maumee, Ohio
, Starr Avenue and Woodville Road in East Toledo, 1320 Dorr, 5233 Dorr, 3411 Monroe, 1028 Sylvania, Swayne Field, and Westgate in West Toledo, and S. Main St. in Bowling Green. In 1968, a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) store was opened in Rossford, Ohio
featuring “lighted glassware displays of the latest merchandising
design”.
In 1973, a new, modern distribution center was opened on Waggoner Blvd. in Toledo.
A Perrysburg, Ohio
store opened in 1974, which reported the highest growth rate of any new store in Lane’s history. In 1976, a Point Place store was relocated to a larger, 10000 square feet (929 m²) location which was to be the prototype of future stores, including departments such as food, bicycle accessories, wicker, and jewelry, as well as a mini-branch of a local savings and loan. Later that year, new stores opened in Sylvania, and at Upton and Bancroft in Toledo. Also operating by this time were stores in Southwyck Mall
and Flint, Michigan
, although the Flint store was later sold to Perry Drug Stores
.
In 1979, a store was opened in Bryan, Ohio
with great publicity and ceremony, marking the 400th store in the People’s Drug chain. Also that year, Lane’s operated 7 full service optical centers in various stores.
In the 1980s, Lane's operated several "Smiles" stores in the Toledo area, specializing in cards, candy
, and gifts In 1985, Lane’s opened two 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) “Bud’s Deep Discount Drug Stores” in the Toledo area. The name “Bud’s” was derived from the nickname of Sheldon “Bud” Fantle.
, Pennsylvania
, West Virginia
, Alabama
, and Georgia
. In 1972, Lane’s merged with the 25 unit Schuman Drug and Dynamic Discount Drug, and purchased a 22% interest in People’s Drug
of Alexandria, Virginia
.,,
In 1976, Lane’s merged with People’s Drug Stores. Mr. Fantle referred to the merger as “the minnow swallowing the whale” since the 250 store People’s chain was purchased by the smaller Lane Drug Co.,
Following the People’s acquisition, Sheldon Fantle rose to president and chief executive officer of Peoples Drug Stores, Inc. and Stephen Schuman became president of Lane’s. In 1980, Mr. Schuman was named a senior vice president of Peoples and Jeffrey Fantle, Sheldon’s son, became president of Lane’s. Sheldon Fantle was also elected chairman of the board of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores,,, and in 1983, Melvin Wilczynski, Lane’s Vice President of Professional Services, was named to a four year term on the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy. In 1985, A. C. Israel sold the Peoples chain and all subsidiaries, including Lane’s, to Imasco
, a Canadian firm which was itself a subsidiary of BAT (British American Tobacco
). In 1987, Sheldon Fantle retired as head of Peoples, Jeffrey Fantle ascended to a position of senior vice president of Peoples, and George R. Hampu was named president of Lane’s.,.
On April 10, 1989, the 114 unit Lane’s was purchased by Rite Aid.
were charged with violations of the Sunday closing laws (“blue laws
”). A Toledo Municipal Judge acquitted the two firms.
In spring of 1965, a movement was initiated by a pharmacist to unionize Lane’s pharmacists. The United States Court of Appeals ultimately ruled that the union had not represented a majority of the pharmacists employed by Lane’s at the time, and although it was ruled that bad faith may have existed on the part of Lane’s, the pharmacists were never unionized. The same union had unsuccessfully demanded recognition by Lane’s as a bargaining unit for some if it’s clerical employees on January 15, 1954.
In March, 1970, the Parkway Plaza store in Maumee was cited by the United States Department of Labor
for not meeting minimum wage standards. The store employed 15 employees, and no other locations were cited.
In April, 1970, it was announced that the Retail Clerks Union, Local 954, would represent over 200 Lane’s retail clerks. The union wanted to represent clerks only in Toledo and the immediate suburbs, while the company also wished the union to represent stores in Bowling Green
, Findlay
, Fostoria
, and Lima
. The union (now known as the United Food and Commercial Workers
) still represents employees in the Rite Aid “Lane’s” stores.,
In 1983, Lane Drug entered into an agreement to lease 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) in a facility owned by Willis Day Properties at 5225 Telegraph Road in North Toledo, for the storage of bulk products for distribution to its stores. On July 7, 1985, the warehouse and most of its contents was destroyed by fire. The Commerce and Industry Insurance Company of Cleveland, Lanes' insurer, sued the Toledo Fire Department for $3 million for negligence, and in 1994 the city settled the lawsuit for $250,000.
The 1953 opening of Lanes eleventh outlet at Broadway and South was publicized with a full page ad in the Toledo Blade
, offering 10,000 free Hawaiian orchids or free cigars to the first 1,000 men.
In 1971, Lane’s ran a full page ad showcasing personalized service, with a photo of the pharmacist
s in each of 24 Toledo area stores, their names and alma mater.
In the mid 1970’s, Lane’s used the slogan “Look to Lane’s” in advertising media. By 1979, Lane’s grand openings were huge spectacles, with festivities including, clowns, beauty consultants from major cosmetics companies, beauty queens, college football heroes, Indi cars, free samples, free cigars, fragrances, and balloons, $5 prescription “Medi-Bucks”, and local marching bands.,
In the mid 1980’s, Lane’s used the slogan “We’re ready”, and advertising showcased services such as the convenience of 52 locations in metropolitan Toledo, professionalism of pharmacists, generic prescription savings, senior citizen discounts, baby club, award winning health information pamphlets, long hours of business, computerized pharmacy data systems, and 6 optical centers with eye exams available at the Southland location.
In 1988, TV and radio ads ran for Lane’s (later using the People’s name) featuring Dixie Carter
and Annie Potts
from the then-popular “Designing Women
” television series. The slogan read “Lane (or People’s) Drug: The convenience you want, the savings you deserve.” Print ads were run for groups of stores for a “grand reopening” as the stores were remodeled and renamed “People’s Drug”.
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. The chain was acquired by Rite Aid
Rite Aid
Rite Aid is a drugstore chain in the United States and a Fortune 500 company headquartered in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, near Camp Hill. Rite Aid is the largest drugstore chain on the East Coast and the third largest drugstore chain in the U.S....
Corporation of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, on April 10, 1989, and currently operates as a division of Rite Aid under the Rite Aid banner.
Store Locations
The first Lane’s opened at the corner of Adams and Erie Streets in Downtown ToledoDowntown Toledo
Downtown Toledo has seen a huge revival in the last few years with new retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, etc moving in to what had been, for many, considered a somewhat of a forgotten ghost town for years. Both the Warehouse District and the area surrounding the Lucas County Arena have...
, across from the courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
, in 1922. Clerks would retrieve items for customers from tall shelves accessed by ladders hanging from the ceilings. Several more stores were added over the next several years, including a location on Summit Street strategically located across from the popular Tiedtke’s Department Store. In 1938, Lane’s opened its first air conditioned super store on Sylvania Avenue allowing customers the convenience of self service and a soda fountain
Soda fountain
A soda fountain is a device that dispenses carbonated drinks. They can be found in restaurants, concession stands and other locations such as convenience stores...
.
In 1952, Lane’s built a new warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
at Detroit and Dura Avenues in Toledo in anticipation of future expansion in the area.
In 1953, Lane’s entered South Toledo, opening a store at 1601 Broadway, at the corner of South Avenue, to much fanfare and featuring prescriptions, cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
, sundries, cigars and tobaccos, hardware, paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
, toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
and camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
departments. At this time the chain employed a total of 350 people.
By 1961, additional locations included Parkway Plaza in Maumee, Ohio
Maumee, Ohio
Maumee is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Toledo along the Maumee River. The population was 14,286 at the 2010 census. Maumee was also declared an All-America City by the National Civic League in June 2006.-Geography:...
, Starr Avenue and Woodville Road in East Toledo, 1320 Dorr, 5233 Dorr, 3411 Monroe, 1028 Sylvania, Swayne Field, and Westgate in West Toledo, and S. Main St. in Bowling Green. In 1968, a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) store was opened in Rossford, Ohio
Rossford, Ohio
Rossford is a city in Wood County, Ohio, United States, along the Maumee River. The population was 6,406 at the 2000 census. The town includes the intersection of Interstate 75 and the Ohio Turnpike.- History :...
featuring “lighted glassware displays of the latest merchandising
Merchandising
Merchandising is the methods, practices, and operations used to promote and sustain certain categories of commercial activity. In the broadest sense, merchandising is any practice which contributes to the sale of products to a retail consumer...
design”.
In 1973, a new, modern distribution center was opened on Waggoner Blvd. in Toledo.
A Perrysburg, Ohio
Perrysburg, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,945 people, 6,592 households, and 4,561 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,899.2 people per square mile . There were 6,964 housing units at an average density of 780.5 per square mile...
store opened in 1974, which reported the highest growth rate of any new store in Lane’s history. In 1976, a Point Place store was relocated to a larger, 10000 square feet (929 m²) location which was to be the prototype of future stores, including departments such as food, bicycle accessories, wicker, and jewelry, as well as a mini-branch of a local savings and loan. Later that year, new stores opened in Sylvania, and at Upton and Bancroft in Toledo. Also operating by this time were stores in Southwyck Mall
Southwyck Mall
Southwyck Mall, was a mall in southern Toledo, Ohio. After the final anchor left, along with most of the inline stores, the mall closed for good on June 29, 2008 .-History:...
and Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
, although the Flint store was later sold to Perry Drug Stores
Perry Drug Stores
Perry Drug Stores was an American retail pharmacy chain founded in 1957 in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, United States. At its peak in the 1980s, Perry operated more than 200 drug stores, primarily in the state of Michigan, as well as 200 Auto Works auto parts stores and fourteen A. L...
.
In 1979, a store was opened in Bryan, Ohio
Bryan, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,528 households, and 2,155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,821.7 people per square mile . There were 3,733 housing units at an average density of 816.1 per square mile...
with great publicity and ceremony, marking the 400th store in the People’s Drug chain. Also that year, Lane’s operated 7 full service optical centers in various stores.
In the 1980s, Lane's operated several "Smiles" stores in the Toledo area, specializing in cards, candy
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
, and gifts In 1985, Lane’s opened two 35000 square feet (3,251.6 m²) “Bud’s Deep Discount Drug Stores” in the Toledo area. The name “Bud’s” was derived from the nickname of Sheldon “Bud” Fantle.
Ownership and Acquisitions
In 1938, the six existing Lane’s stores were sold to the K-W Drug Company of Cleveland, OH. In 1956, the Amster family of Cleveland sold the company to the A.C. Israel Commodity Company of New York, although the Amster family continued to manage the stores until 1970. In 1970, Lane’s established a working relationship with Schuman Drug of Canton, OH. Sheldon Fantle of Schuman’s became president of the Lane Drug Co. and moved the base from New York to Toledo. At this time it was reported that the company operated 106 drug stores in five states, including OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. In 1972, Lane’s merged with the 25 unit Schuman Drug and Dynamic Discount Drug, and purchased a 22% interest in People’s Drug
Peoples Drug
Peoples Drug was a chain of drug stores based in Alexandria, VA, a suburb of Washington, D.C.. Founded in 1904, Peoples was subsequently purchased by Lane Drug in 1975, Imasco in 1984, and finally by CVS in 1990, which continued to run the stores under the Peoples banner until 1994, at which time...
of Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
.,,
In 1976, Lane’s merged with People’s Drug Stores. Mr. Fantle referred to the merger as “the minnow swallowing the whale” since the 250 store People’s chain was purchased by the smaller Lane Drug Co.,
Following the People’s acquisition, Sheldon Fantle rose to president and chief executive officer of Peoples Drug Stores, Inc. and Stephen Schuman became president of Lane’s. In 1980, Mr. Schuman was named a senior vice president of Peoples and Jeffrey Fantle, Sheldon’s son, became president of Lane’s. Sheldon Fantle was also elected chairman of the board of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores,,, and in 1983, Melvin Wilczynski, Lane’s Vice President of Professional Services, was named to a four year term on the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy. In 1985, A. C. Israel sold the Peoples chain and all subsidiaries, including Lane’s, to Imasco
Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco is a global tobacco company headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is the world’s fourth-largest cigarette company measured by market share , and the world's largest producer of cigars, fine-cut tobacco and tobacco papers...
, a Canadian firm which was itself a subsidiary of BAT (British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
). In 1987, Sheldon Fantle retired as head of Peoples, Jeffrey Fantle ascended to a position of senior vice president of Peoples, and George R. Hampu was named president of Lane’s.,.
On April 10, 1989, the 114 unit Lane’s was purchased by Rite Aid.
Labor Disputes and Legal Issues
In 1962, Lane’s and WalgreensWalgreens
Walgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
were charged with violations of the Sunday closing laws (“blue laws
Blue Laws
The Blue Laws of the Colony of Connecticut, as distinct from the generic term "blue law" that refers to any laws regulating activities on Sunday, were the initial statutes set up by the Gov. Theophilus Eaton with the assistance of the Rev. John Cotton in 1655 for the Colony of New Haven, now part...
”). A Toledo Municipal Judge acquitted the two firms.
In spring of 1965, a movement was initiated by a pharmacist to unionize Lane’s pharmacists. The United States Court of Appeals ultimately ruled that the union had not represented a majority of the pharmacists employed by Lane’s at the time, and although it was ruled that bad faith may have existed on the part of Lane’s, the pharmacists were never unionized. The same union had unsuccessfully demanded recognition by Lane’s as a bargaining unit for some if it’s clerical employees on January 15, 1954.
In March, 1970, the Parkway Plaza store in Maumee was cited by the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
for not meeting minimum wage standards. The store employed 15 employees, and no other locations were cited.
In April, 1970, it was announced that the Retail Clerks Union, Local 954, would represent over 200 Lane’s retail clerks. The union wanted to represent clerks only in Toledo and the immediate suburbs, while the company also wished the union to represent stores in Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
, Findlay
Findlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
, Fostoria
Fostoria, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,931 people, 5,565 households, and 3,628 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,917.6 people per square mile . There were 6,024 housing units at an average density of 829.2 per square mile...
, and Lima
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
. The union (now known as the United Food and Commercial Workers
United Food and Commercial Workers
The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is a labor union representing approximately 1.3 million workers in the United States and Canada in many industries, including agriculture, health care, meatpacking, poultry and food processing, manufacturing, textile, G4S Security, chemical...
) still represents employees in the Rite Aid “Lane’s” stores.,
In 1983, Lane Drug entered into an agreement to lease 100000 square feet (9,290.3 m²) in a facility owned by Willis Day Properties at 5225 Telegraph Road in North Toledo, for the storage of bulk products for distribution to its stores. On July 7, 1985, the warehouse and most of its contents was destroyed by fire. The Commerce and Industry Insurance Company of Cleveland, Lanes' insurer, sued the Toledo Fire Department for $3 million for negligence, and in 1994 the city settled the lawsuit for $250,000.
Advertising and Promotion
From the beginning in 1922, Lane’s operated on a philosophy of low prices and high service, stating “We meet or beat all advertised prices. Nothing in our store is sold at full price…” and offering home delivery.The 1953 opening of Lanes eleventh outlet at Broadway and South was publicized with a full page ad in the Toledo Blade
The Blade (newspaper)
The Blade is a daily newspaper in Toledo, Ohio, first published on December 19, 1835.- Overview :David Ross Locke gained national fame for the paper during the Civil War era by writing under the pen name Petroleum V. Nasby. Writing under the pen name, Locke wrote satires ranging on topics from...
, offering 10,000 free Hawaiian orchids or free cigars to the first 1,000 men.
In 1971, Lane’s ran a full page ad showcasing personalized service, with a photo of the pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
s in each of 24 Toledo area stores, their names and alma mater.
In the mid 1970’s, Lane’s used the slogan “Look to Lane’s” in advertising media. By 1979, Lane’s grand openings were huge spectacles, with festivities including, clowns, beauty consultants from major cosmetics companies, beauty queens, college football heroes, Indi cars, free samples, free cigars, fragrances, and balloons, $5 prescription “Medi-Bucks”, and local marching bands.,
In the mid 1980’s, Lane’s used the slogan “We’re ready”, and advertising showcased services such as the convenience of 52 locations in metropolitan Toledo, professionalism of pharmacists, generic prescription savings, senior citizen discounts, baby club, award winning health information pamphlets, long hours of business, computerized pharmacy data systems, and 6 optical centers with eye exams available at the Southland location.
In 1988, TV and radio ads ran for Lane’s (later using the People’s name) featuring Dixie Carter
Dixie Carter
Dixie Virginia Carter was an American film, television and stage actress, best known for her role as Julia Sugarbaker in the CBS sitcom Designing Women...
and Annie Potts
Annie Potts
Anne Hampton "Annie" Potts is an American film and television actress. She is known for her roles in the 1980s popular films such as Ghostbusters , Pretty in Pink , Jumpin' Jack Flash , Who's Harry Crumb? and Ghostbusters II . Potts is also known as a voice-actress...
from the then-popular “Designing Women
Designing Women
Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered on the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by head writer...
” television series. The slogan read “Lane (or People’s) Drug: The convenience you want, the savings you deserve.” Print ads were run for groups of stores for a “grand reopening” as the stores were remodeled and renamed “People’s Drug”.