Groceteria.com

The story on Charlotte chains mentions the Giant Genie which started off as a Colony Food Center but changed to Giant Genie sometime in the 70s when two other locations were also started. The website of Giant Genie states that it is a pharmacy located on South Blvd. in Charlotte (not one of the three locations mentioned in the article) that was started in 1983. The website utilizes the same Giant Genie logo shown in the picture accompanying the article (save for the fact it's blue instead of red). So what gives? Was the Giant Genie chain bought by a pharmacy (which seems strange. Why not just start your own pharmacy with a more pharmacy sounding name?). When did the location on South Blvd. open up? Which location is shown in the article on Charlotte chains?

Barcelos wrote:Was the Giant Genie chain bought by a pharmacy (which seems strange. Why not just start your own pharmacy with a more pharmacy sounding name?). When did the location on South Blvd. open up? Which location is shown in the article on Charlotte chains?

The Giant Genie chain was a small family-owned chain that only ever had five or six stores. The first store (which is the store pictured and labelled on the site) opened on Park Road in the former location of the Colony Food Center; this store was also the last to close, in 1999.

There is exactly one Giant Genie pharmacy, which is probably owned by one of the members of the family that had owned the supermarkets. Or perhaps they just got permission from the family to use the name. I imagine it's some sort of franchise or co-op, as are most small, independent pharmacies, hence the mention of a "parent company" on their website.

There's not really a big story or a grand corporate takeover involved here; it's just a small family business that went through some changes over the years.

Groceteria wrote:

Barcelos wrote:Was the Giant Genie chain bought by a pharmacy (which seems strange. Why not just start your own pharmacy with a more pharmacy sounding name?). When did the location on South Blvd. open up? Which location is shown in the article on Charlotte chains?

The Giant Genie chain was a small family-owned chain that only ever had five or six stores. The first store (which is the store pictured and labelled on the site) opened on Park Road in the former location of the Colony Food Center; this store was also the last to close, in 1999.

There is exactly one Giant Genie pharmacy, which is probably owned by one of the members of the family that had owned the supermarkets. Or perhaps they just got permission from the family to use the name. I imagine it's some sort of franchise or co-op, as are most small, independent pharmacies, hence the mention of a "parent company" on their website.

There's not really a big story or a grand corporate takeover involved here; it's just a small family business that went through some changes over the years.

I was wondering about Giant Genie. I often listen to 1110AM (WBT) Radio out of Charlotte after dark when the powerful signal can be heard along the east coast. Giant Genie is a regular advertiser of the John Hancock Radio Talk Show.

The host (Hancock) does on air commercials about Giant Genie Pharmacy and all of the Pharmacy's services.