Ray’s Pharmacy Turns 40 & Re-invigorates Downtown Shopping

By Margie Doyle

A fresh coat of paint, a new juice/coffee bar, expanded Medicaid  and managed care services – Ray’s Pharmacy is busy, and that’s good for business!  Under the ownership of Rick and Marlace Hughes, both from long-time Orcas Island families, Ray’s  is celebrating 40 years in business this year.  And with new services and products, they’re out to prove that  “life begins at 40.”

As a business, Ray’s has the usual costs of doing business – overhead, supply, employee costs. Although Rick Hughes chafes at the extra burden of government forms, regulations, verification and fees, he and Marlace decided to add the labor-intensive service of providing Medicaid through the State of Washington. It’s a money-losing proposition, Hughes says, but after much consideration, “We decided it’s the right thing to do.”

Ray’s is “dipping its toes” into providing the first line of defense for all medical care facilities on the island, Hughes says. “We plan to supply service to all the island to fill holes, if there are holes there.” In keeping with its legacy as the town pharmacy, the Hughes’ plan to help customers with “managed care,” – looking at their medical regimes and bills to find a less expensive way to provide needed prescriptions.  Sometimes generic drugs may be cheaper than a medical plan co-payment, Hughes says.

Ray’s also provides immunizations such as flu shots, travels shots,  whooping cough /pertussis (Tdap) shots, and shingles medication, which requires a special, -30 degree freezer. It also involves providing licenses staff a couple of days a month to give the immunizations.

“We have the good fortune of interacting with all the medical professionals on the island,” Hughes said. “We see this as a new opportunity to bridge some basic services at the same prices as offered by mainland drug stores. We as merchants have to provide a reason to shop local, try to find solutions to keep people from going off island to find basic services. ”

Produce Department Juice Bar & Café is one of the new additions incorporated into the updated Ray’s Pharmacy and General Store.

Since buying the business of Ray’s Pharmacy and the building housing it in 2007, the Hughes have expanded Ray’s into the space formerly occupied by Pywacket Used Books to install a toy department. It has broadened into knitting and wine supply – even though Hughes says there’s almost no margin for profit in wines — and has worked with the Orcas School’s Farm to Cafeteria Committee to sponsor the Mead and Cider Fests the past two years.

The building now houses Cherry T’s Children’s Clothing Store, Upon this Rock Art Gallery, and the Produce Department—a new juice bar and café.

“We want to be the traditional general store – Ray’s General Store and Pharmacy,” says Hughes. “We have amazing customers – both local and tourists, and we try to change things up, make every thing a fun adventure.” To that end, he and other Eastsound businesses formed the Eastsound Merchants Association, celebrating with Harvest Festivals, Great Santa Saturdays, and Great Hoppin’ Saturday Bunny Days.

Last year the store remodeled and re-landscaped. This month, the building got a fresh coat of paint, blue with red trim.

To succeed in business, and particularly the retail business, Hughes says  “You have to be passionate and dedicated, take care of your customers, work hard and be an ambassador for the business, the community and the island – and be realistic. It can be a lot of fun, but it’s not easy.”