The milkshakes are coming back! Reeves-Sain Drug Store slated to reopen in Murfreesboro
Nearly four years after closing its doors, Reeves-Sain Drug Store will reopen, the owner confirmed.
And yes, those award-winning milkshakes are coming back, too. (Go ahead and do your happy dance.)
"I'm pretty excited," said pharmacist Rick Sain, who owns the building at 1801 Memorial Blvd. in Murfreesboro. "It's stressful, but it's a fun stress to know we'll be getting it back in this town."
The remodeling project on the building will take a few months to complete. But Sain hopes it won't be longer than a couple of months before the shop reopens.
Recently there have been hints at a return. For two weeks, the marquee on the black-out pharmacy sign had "stay tuned" posted. A few days ago, the message changed to "we're coming back s."
Sain said his phone started buzzing after both messages.
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Folks first asked about the milkshakes and then the post office.
The old-school soda fountain will return, but a third-party vendor will handle concessions — including those hand-spun shakes that annually earned the "Best Milkshake" title from the DNJ's Ruthies Awards until the shop closed in December 2018.
"I'm still waiting on a signoff for the post office," Sain said.
The rest of the store will remain the same. There will be a pharmacy, medication compounding and gift shop.
"There won't be any structural changes, we're just giving it a facelift," Sain said.
The building will get a new roof, flooring and ceiling. The interior and exterior will get a paint job.
Sain's sister, Daffodilly Design owner Lori Sain Smith, is helping with aesthetics.
Originally, Reeves-Sain began in 1980 as Reeves-Powell Drug Store, a partnership between former Murfeesboro Mayor Richard Reeves and Ron Powell. The business included a prescription shop, a large number of over-the-counter medications and some grocery items.
In 1994, Sain partnered with the former mayor's son, state Sen. Shane Reeves, and rebranded the pharmacy as Reeves-Sain.
Over the years, the charm and draw of Reeves-Sain became the customer service, Sain said.
"Our people have always gone above and beyond," and doctors appreciate that, he said.
The locally owned shop was sold to Fred's in 2015, but the store retained its name. In 2018, Walgreens acquired patient prescription files and related pharmacy inventory from Fred's. Because a Walgreens is located less than a half-mile from Reeves-Sain, the company closed the hometown pharmacy.
Sain expects the new Reeves-Sain to reopen sometime in the fall.
Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at degennaro@dnj.com. Keep up with restaurant news by joining Good Eats in the 'Boro (and beyond) on Facebook and follow Murfreesboro Eats on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Reeves-Sain Drug Store to reopen in Murfreesboro
