“Just over three weeks” after a North Wales Rowlands branch was ravaged by a fire, it reopened its doors in Rhos on Sea, hosting an event to celebrate its return last month (September 26), the multiple announced.
The pharmacy had been forced to vacate its premises and operate from a portacabin to allow refurbishments to take place to fix the fire damage.
But less than a month later, the pharmacy was able to return to its high street location, it said.
Read more: ‘We lost everything in the fire’: Rowlands reopens in portacabin
Mayor of Colwyn Bay councillor Ricki Owen cut the “all-important blue ribbon” at the reopening and invited customers from the local community back into the pharmacy, according to Rowlands.
“It was lovely to welcome back our customers and resume full service from our new-look premises,” the pharmacy’s healthcare partner Ann said.
Area manager Dawn Jones thanked staff, customers and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for their support throughout the refurbishment process.
“Operating out of temporary accommodation involved a brilliant team effort from everyone and it is with enormous thanks to everyone we were able to continue serving the healthcare needs of our customers,” Jones said.
“Accidental fire”
After the “accidental fire” on August 21, which was “believed to have been caused by an electrical fault,” the Rowlands pharmacy was forced to relocate to a temporary portacabin to continue its business.
North Wales Fire and Rescue Service told C+D at the time that four vehicles were mobilised to attend to the scene, with the blaze causing “25% fire damage and 95% heat damage” in the branch.
Read more: Suspected arson and electrical fire: Two pharmacies hit by blaze on same day
Following the incident, the pharmacy announced in a Facebook post on August 30 that it was reopening in a temporary portacabin, “located immediately outside the damaged premises.”
“We lost everything in the fire so please bear with us while we re-order and re-stock,” the post said.
Read more: Liverpool pharmacy team ‘devastated’ by fire that ‘completely ruined’ premises
But while the “temporary cabin” allowed the pharmacy to continue its services, it did not come without its challenges.
The absence of a consultation room meant the entire portacabin was forced to close whenever a patient needed an examination, even for simple procedures such as a “sore throat test swab”.
It remains unclear how much stock was lost in the fire, as well as the cost of repairs to the pharmacy.