JJ’s Value Drug Mart is now Open

JJ’s Value Drug Mart is now Open

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

JJ’s Value Drug Mart is a new drugstore that is located at Galleria Shoppes in Vegreville at 53 Street and 50 Avenue, Unit 205.

JJ’s Value Drug Mart opened its doors with a soft opening on July 2.

Pharmacist and Owner Jonathan (J.J.) Begalke said he called the store J.J. because that is his first name, and Value Drug Mart has a long history in Vegreville.

Begalke said he wanted to tack the name on to Value Drug Mart for some name recognition as he used to live in the area and worked locally as a pharmacist for more than 15 years. He worked at Value Drug Mart in Vegreville for about 10 years and then at The Medicine Shoppe for about five years.

Begalke is originally from Grande Prairie. He now lives in Sherwood Park with his wife, Annette who is a family doctor in Sherwood Park. Together they have three young daughters, Charlotte who is six, Sofia is four, and Victoria is nine months.

Jonathan (J.J.) Begalka, is the Owner/Pharmacist of the new drug store he opened in Vegreville. (Rosanne Fortier/photo)

Begalke said he decided to open a drug store in town because he felt it was a good opportunity to have an independent drug store in Vegreville. He has been a pharmacist for over 20 years. “I have just spent the last year at the Camrose Hospital and I like dealing with people so I didn’t want to be in a hospital setting permanently.

I wanted to work in a community and have people stop in and say hi. Then I think a drug store is important because besides drugs, they provide medical information. It is important that people use a single drug store too because then the pharmacist dispensing knows everything going on with that patient and all their medical needs.”

“I don’t want to include a confectionary in the drug store. I just want to stick with medications. Drug stores’ supplies are important due to the COVID-19 pandemic because it would be bad if drug stores ran out of a few of the medications that could benefit someone who is COVID-19 positive.”

When Begalke was asked what was unique about his drug store, he said it was just medications in the store. “When people come in, it will be like a doctor’s clinic in the sense; it will have their medical needs in it, not their birthday presents. People won’t have to look all over for medicines, it will be easy to find. As well, we have no problem delivering medications to people who are not so mobile.”