Cunningham Drug was a drugstore chain based in Detroit, Michigan. Founded in October 1889 by Andrew Cunningham, the chain operated primarily within the state of Michigan, and was once the largest drugstore chain in the state. Its Michigan locations were closed and reopened in 1982 as Apex Drug, and were later sold to Perry Drug Stores. The last stores remained open in Florida until 1991, when they were sold to Walgreens.
Andrew Cunningham opened the first Cunningham drug store in Detroit in October 1889.[1] In 1931, the 50-store Economical Drug chain, also based in Detroit, consolidated with Cunningham, which at the time had thirteen stores.[1][2] Economical Drug owner Nate Shapero also assumed control of the Cunningham chain. Cunningham announced a merger with Marshall Drug Co. of Cleveland, Ohio in 1940.[3][4]
Between 1958 and 1959, the chain announced mergers with two other chains: Broward Drug of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Kinsel Drug Co., also of Detroit.[5][6] Following the merger, Cunningham became the largest drugstore chain in Michigan, and had locations in several other states.[1] An effort was made by the United States Department of Justice to dissolve the Kinsel merger, citing that it was in violation of the Clayton Antitrust Act.[7] The dissolution was canceled in 1963.[8]
An acquisition of Whelan Drug in Florida added fourteen more Cunningham locations to that state in 1964.[9] The chain later sold 28 Florida stores to Gray Drug of Ohio.[10][11]
Cunningham's also had some small drug stores branded as Schettler's in major hotels, such as the Sheraton-Cadillac in Detroit, and at high-end retail, such as at Somerset Mall in Troy, Michigan.[12] In the 1960s, a small number of Cunningham's were re-branded as Dot Discount, an experiment which did not expand further, but which lasted a couple decades, some years after all Cunningham's had closed in the Detroit area.
The chain sold off twenty-eight of its Michigan stores in 1982 to a private company, which re-branded them as Apex Drug.[13] Three years later, most of the Apex locations were sold to Perry Drug Stores, another chain based in the Detroit metropolitan area.[14]
The remaining Cunningham stores were gradually sold off or shuttered; by late 1991, the last five in operation, all in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area, were sold to Walgreens.[15]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Businesses gone but not forgotten: A local legacy of risk-taking". Crain's Detroit Business. 27 June 2001. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
^Pinto, David (18 August 2008). "Devine a link to industry's halcyon days". Chain Drug Review. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
^"Devine, new Affil./Assoc. prez, gears up for the '90s". Drug Store News. 10 September 1990. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
^Altaner, David (4 December 1991). "Pharmacy chain buys A1A store: Cunningham's Drug sold to Walgreen Co". Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
January 01, 1970
cunningham, drug, unrelated, canadian, chain, cunningham, drug, canada, cunningham, drug, drugstore, chain, based, detroit, michigan, founded, october, 1889, andrew, cunningham, chain, operated, primarily, within, state, michigan, once, largest, drugstore, cha. For the unrelated Canadian chain see Cunningham Drug Canada Cunningham Drug was a drugstore chain based in Detroit Michigan Founded in October 1889 by Andrew Cunningham the chain operated primarily within the state of Michigan and was once the largest drugstore chain in the state Its Michigan locations were closed and reopened in 1982 as Apex Drug and were later sold to Perry Drug Stores The last stores remained open in Florida until 1991 when they were sold to Walgreens Cunningham DrugIndustryRetailFoundedOctober 1889Defunct1982FateAcquiredSuccessorVariousHeadquartersDetroit Michigan USAKey peopleAndrew Cunningham founderProductsRetail PharmacyHistory edit nbsp A former Cunningham Drug later Perry Drug and then Rite Aid in Oscoda Michigan Since this picture was taken the building has been re tenanted by Goodwill Industries Andrew Cunningham opened the first Cunningham drug store in Detroit in October 1889 1 In 1931 the 50 store Economical Drug chain also based in Detroit consolidated with Cunningham which at the time had thirteen stores 1 2 Economical Drug owner Nate Shapero also assumed control of the Cunningham chain Cunningham announced a merger with Marshall Drug Co of Cleveland Ohio in 1940 3 4 Between 1958 and 1959 the chain announced mergers with two other chains Broward Drug of Fort Lauderdale Florida and Kinsel Drug Co also of Detroit 5 6 Following the merger Cunningham became the largest drugstore chain in Michigan and had locations in several other states 1 An effort was made by the United States Department of Justice to dissolve the Kinsel merger citing that it was in violation of the Clayton Antitrust Act 7 The dissolution was canceled in 1963 8 An acquisition of Whelan Drug in Florida added fourteen more Cunningham locations to that state in 1964 9 The chain later sold 28 Florida stores to Gray Drug of Ohio 10 11 Cunningham s also had some small drug stores branded as Schettler s in major hotels such as the Sheraton Cadillac in Detroit and at high end retail such as at Somerset Mall in Troy Michigan 12 In the 1960s a small number of Cunningham s were re branded as Dot Discount an experiment which did not expand further but which lasted a couple decades some years after all Cunningham s had closed in the Detroit area The chain sold off twenty eight of its Michigan stores in 1982 to a private company which re branded them as Apex Drug 13 Three years later most of the Apex locations were sold to Perry Drug Stores another chain based in the Detroit metropolitan area 14 The remaining Cunningham stores were gradually sold off or shuttered by late 1991 the last five in operation all in the Fort Lauderdale Florida area were sold to Walgreens 15 References edit a b c Businesses gone but not forgotten A local legacy of risk taking Crain s Detroit Business 27 June 2001 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Drug merger approved The Wall Street Journal 22 October 1931 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Cunningham Drug may get Marshall chain of 42 stores The Wall Street Journal 11 October 1940 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Control of Marshall Drug by Cunningham firm likely The Wall Street Journal 6 December 1940 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Cunningham Drug Stores The Wall Street Journal 31 March 1958 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Cunningham Drug Kinsel Merger The Wall Street Journal 18 November 1958 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Cunningham Drug denies Kinsel purchase violated antitrust act The Wall Street Journal 14 September 1960 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Justice Agency ends bid to kill Cunningham s purchase of Kinsel Drug The Wall Street Journal 12 April 1963 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Cunningham takes over Whelan Drugs sells out The Miami News 2 November 1964 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Cunningham Drug Stores agrees to sell 28 units in Florida to Gray Drug The Wall Street Journal 31 March 1971 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Cunningham Drug completes sale The Wall Street Journal 3 May 1971 Retrieved 12 July 2010 1984 Press Photo Somerset Mall Schettler s Drugs lunch Historic Images Retrieved 30 June 2020 Pinto David 18 August 2008 Devine a link to industry s halcyon days Chain Drug Review Retrieved 12 July 2010 Devine new Affil Assoc prez gears up for the 90s Drug Store News 10 September 1990 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Altaner David 4 December 1991 Pharmacy chain buys A1A store Cunningham s Drug sold to Walgreen Co Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Retrieved 12 July 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cunningham Drug U S amp oldid 1177303903, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
