298:
251:, baby supplies, hardware and office supplies were in this half of the store. The other half of the store, the health and beauty sections, had their aisles slanted so customers could see down the aisles as they walked from the front doors to the pharmacy, which was in the back of the store. A very wide main aisle led from the front door to the pharmacy, and this aisle separated the slanted aisles from the "straight aisles". While many drug stores in the U.S. have variations of this design today, it was a departure at the time from the usual all front-to-back, straight aisles. In Revco's free standing stores, the slanted aisles had an open ceiling above them; the other aisles had a
36:
493:. Many famous runners participated over the years, as "The Revco" became an Olympic qualifying event. After CVS bought Revco, the race became known as the "CVS Marathon and 10K" before CVS dropped its sponsorship in the early 2000s. The race was sponsored by Rite Aid until 2021, when Union Home Mortgage became the primary sponsor.
258:
The new stores also were decorated in soft blues and greys, had track lighting, and low hanging lights over the greeting cards, all which gave the store a "soft" appearance. Revco introduced strict rules about having no handwritten signs or merchandise displays sitting directly on the floor, which it
447:
information. It highly advertised this system to customers, which allowed a customer to go any Revco to have their prescription refilled without the stores having to call each other on the phone. While this type of system is the norm in drug stores today, it was revolutionary when Revco used it. PAL
384:
Revco was well known for the slogan "You need all the Revco you can get!", its "A Friend for Life" slogan, and its senior citizen's discount program, called "Senior
Shoppers" (in which customers over 65 received 10% off their purchase every Wednesday). Revco also had a discount program for customers
198:
and increase short-term profitability, Dworkin then led the chain into a deal that would seal its fate many years later. Under his leadership, Revco purchased a company called Odd Lot
Trading Co., a closeout retailer based in New Jersey. Revco's management lost its focus on the drug store portion of
246:
The hallmark of the new store designs was the arrangement of the store aisles, which was developed and introduced as the company was emerging from bankruptcy. Half the store had aisles that ran from the front of the store to the back in straight rows. Seasonal merchandise, food,
211:. Part of the buyout deal was to reduce costs by closing stores and by reducing inventory to repay debts. This left the company with a shortfall of cash, and suppliers stopped shipping inventory, causing the chain to lose customers. This eventually caused the chain to file for
193:
Up to 1983, Revco grew tremendously; the chain had over 2,200 stores and over $ 2.2 billion ($ 5.66 billion in 2023) in sales. The chain then began to stumble. In 1983, its vitamins were blamed for the deaths of a number of premature infants. In order to prevent a
388:
At the time, it was highly unusual for a chain of Revco's size to offer such discount programs, and the chain was extremely popular with customers because of these programs. Revco may have been well ahead of its time, as its discount programs resembled today's
227:. In 1990, 221 Midwest Revco stores were purchased by Reliable Drug, based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Michigan stores purchased by Reliable were sold almost immediately to Perry Drugs. Revco emerged from bankruptcy, as an independent company, in 1992.
397:
and CVS. Revco had customers fill out an information card with their contact information and gave them a card to identify their participation in the discount program (though Revco did not track purchases as many loyalty card programs do today).
199:
its business due to problems with Odd Lot
Trading Co., and earnings tumbled. The chain also began to merchandise items such as televisions, furniture, and other non-core items, and the heavy investment proved to be a failure.
442:
Revco was one of the first drug store chains in the country to have a centralized pharmacy computer system, which it called
Prescription Access Link (PAL). This system allowed each Revco access to any other Revco's
337:, Inc. As part of executing the divestiture to Eckerd, the FTC alleged that CVS removed important computers and pharmacy files from the divested stores, and that CVS denied Eckerd access to Revco's computerized
235:
Revco's turnaround from bankruptcy was and is often still considered the "model" of a business recovering from bankruptcy. The chain closed many underperforming stores (including selling all stores
580:
408:
Rite Aid now offers a similar discount program to "Senior
Shoppers", called "Living More". This may be because Rite-Aid's James P. Mastrian, who is the Executive Vice President of
353:$ 600,000 for the violation. Apart from the FTC penalty, CVS paid a $ 1.58 million fine to the Virginia Board of Pharmacy for violating state regulations governing the transfer of
255:
over them. In these stores today, which are now CVS stores, the open ceiling and drop ceiling are still in place (though all the aisles are now aligned in a traditional manner).
741:
522:
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In order to help Zell recover his investment in the company, the company's management was under pressure to sell the company. In 1996, Revco entered into an agreement with
262:
After emerging from bankruptcy, the chain grew tremendously again, increasing its store count to over 2,500 stores. Part of this growth came from the purchase of over 800
715:
405:
as an advertising spokesperson in the 1990s, who often began commercials by saying, "And another thing..." and would end them by saying, "...and now you know. Revco."
321:. In response, CVS and Revco agreed that 114 of Revco's Virginia stores and six of its Binghamton-area stores would be divested. The companies entered into a
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north through
Twinsburg and Solon, and eventually ended in Cleveland. This particularly grueling course was changed in later years to begin and end at
318:
820:
243:
systems, and introduced a new store design to help increase sales. The chain shrank from about 2,200 stores to about 1,500 stores during this period.
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179:
175:
1234:
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1194:
581:"REVCO BUILDING "CLOSE-OUT" MERCHANDISING BUSINESS WITH ODD LOT ACQUISITION FOR $ 113 MIL.; PURCHASE INCLUDES $ 78 MIL. WHSLE. BUSINESS"
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that first year, the festival now attracts thousands from all over the world and makes national headlines every summer.
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in many markets because Rite Aid and Revco had many overlapping stores, and Rite Aid withdrew its bid for the company.
166:
for $ 2.8 billion ($ 4.94 billion in 2023) in
February 1997. When it was sold, the chain had over 2,500 stores.
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Revco, originally known as
Registered Vitamin Company, was founded in 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, by
114:
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82:
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entered into an agreement to acquire Revco, but the FTC moved to block the acquisition under the
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thought gave the stores a cleaner look. All front-end employees had to wear a navy blue smock.
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on the ground that it would substantially reduce competition in two markets: the state of
290:(FTC) announced that it would sue to stop the buyout, saying that Rite Aid would become a
8:
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147:
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with disabilities (called "Helping Hands") and for baby supplies (called "Baby Bunch").
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106:
Pharmacy, Cosmetics, Health and Beauty Aids, General
Merchandise, Snacks, 1 Hour Photo
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530:
422:, was the brainchild of Charles R. DeHaven, then Revco's Assistant Vice President of
239:
to the son of the then-current Rite Aid CEO), reduced costs, introduced computerized
785:
462:
423:
208:
195:
821:"CVS To Pay $ 600,000 Civil Penalty for Violating FTC Asset Maintenance Agreement"
325:
with the agency, under which it was agreed that the
Virginia-area stores would be
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469:, which was often referred to among runners as "The Revco" (its full name was "
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Sign with lingering Revco logo at shopping center near Fishkill, NY, in 2023
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426:. DeHaven planned a number of promotional events in 1976 to commemorate
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477:/running first became a national fitness craze. Famous Olympic athlete
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was introduced to Revco stores during its emergence from bankruptcy.
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CVS Corporation; Revco D.S., Inc.; Analysis To Aid Public Comment.
606:"Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions"
605:
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418:, a festival honoring the twin brothers who founded the city of
266:
drug stores in 1994 in the Mid-Atlantic region and Midwest, and
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326:
35:
958:
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in the southeast, which was its last purchase, made in 1996.
481:
fired the starting gun at the first race, which started at
219:, in part to fend off separate takeover attempts by both
183:
215:
in 1988. Revco was bailed out of bankruptcy by investor
627:"Streamlined Revco struggles to emerge from bankruptcy"
801:
In the matter of CVS Corporation and Revco D.S., Inc.
766:
In the matter of CVS Corporation and Revco D.S., Inc.
412:, held the same position at Revco from 1994 to 1997.
379:
742:"CVS to Acquire Revco in $ 2.8 Billion Stock Deal"
523:"CVS TO ACQUIRE REVCO IN $ 2.8 BILLION STOCK DEAL"
319:Binghamton, New York metropolitan statistical area
349:, impairing Eckerd's ability to compete. CVS was
1171:
690:
688:
668:
666:
621:
619:
768:, no. C-3762 (Fed. Trad Comm'n. Aug. 13, 1997)(
333:and the Binghamton stores would be divested to
815:
813:
803:, no. C-3762 (Fed. Trad Comm'n. May 29, 1997)(
929:
685:
663:
616:
848:"What's Really Going On Inside The Beltway?"
473:"). The first race took place in 1976, when
230:
810:
716:"Rite Aid Gives Up $ 1.8 Billion Revco Bid"
437:
936:
922:
827:. Federal Trade Commission. March 27, 1998
646:"Perry Drug snaps up 24 more Mich. Revcos"
34:
1240:American companies disestablished in 1997
672:
643:
430:. From the small gathering of 37 sets of
296:
1200:Retail companies disestablished in 1997
1185:Defunct pharmacies of the United States
694:
1235:American companies established in 1956
1172:
277:
154:. The chain's stock was traded on the
19:For the band also known as RevCo, see
917:
874:"The History and Views of Twins Days"
739:
456:
451:
375:D. Dwayne Hoven (1992–1997, last CEO)
1180:Retail companies established in 1956
846:Tom, Willard K. (October 20, 1998).
637:
471:The Revco Cleveland Marathon and 10K
1215:Health care companies based in Ohio
845:
713:
207:In 1986, Revco was the target of a
13:
1195:Private equity portfolio companies
644:Frederick, James (June 23, 1990).
485:in Hudson, Ohio, wound its way up
182:. Dworkin led Revco until 1986 as
14:
1251:
740:Segal, David (February 8, 1997).
714:Day, Kathleen (April 25, 1996).
380:Promotions and discount programs
345:, which would require Eckerd to
1220:1956 establishments in Michigan
1205:Defunct companies based in Ohio
892:
866:
839:
794:
775:
759:
733:
16:Defunct American pharmacy chain
1225:1997 disestablishments in Ohio
943:
707:
598:
573:
548:
515:
461:Revco founded and sponsored a
1:
496:
341:, providing the data only on
237:west of the Mississippi River
202:
556:"History of Revco D.S., Inc"
508:
142:chain operating through the
7:
1159:CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge
1006:Navarro Discount Pharmacies
964:Aetna Health Inc. v. Davila
369:William Edwards (1986–1987)
10:
1256:
1154:CVS Health Charity Classic
854:. Federal Trade Commission
491:Cleveland State University
366:Sidney Dworkin (1961–1986)
347:manually re-enter the data
169:
152:Southeastern United States
124:Revco Discount Drug Stores
18:
1141:
1105:
1024:
951:
673:Frederick, James (1996).
428:the nation's bicentennial
231:Emergence from bankruptcy
110:
102:
92:
78:
70:
52:
42:
33:
1113:Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley
697:"POS speeds into stores"
438:Prescription Access Link
288:Federal Trade Commission
186:, and then he served as
1190:Companies based in Ohio
695:Griffin, Marie (1995).
483:Western Reserve Academy
372:Boake Sells (1987–1992)
360:
162:RXR. Revco was sold to
156:New York Stock Exchange
302:
286:to be bought out. The
58:; 68 years ago
1087:Standard Drug Company
904:clevelandmarathon.com
300:
1072:Reliable Drug Stores
1057:Melville Corporation
969:Coventry Health Care
529:. February 8, 1997.
355:patient prescription
339:patient profile data
56:August 24, 1956
1230:Summit County, Ohio
1149:CVS Charity Classic
401:Revco used gymnast
278:Sale of the company
268:Birmingham, Alabama
148:Mid-Atlantic states
30:
1052:Hook's Drug Stores
457:The Revco Marathon
452:In popular culture
331:Eckerd Corporation
305:In February 1997,
303:
28:
1167:
1166:
1047:Haag Drug Company
1016:Oak Street Health
393:programs used by
134:), once based in
126:(known simply as
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29:Revco, D.S., Inc.
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876:. Archived from
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424:Public Relations
209:leveraged buyout
196:hostile takeover
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1097:Target Pharmacy
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979:Eight Forty One
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880:on May 20, 2007
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701:Drug Store News
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679:Drug Store News
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650:Drug Store News
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560:FundingUniverse
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403:Mary Lou Retton
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335:Medicine Shoppe
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136:Twinsburg, Ohio
97:Twinsburg, Ohio
62:
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21:Revolting Cocks
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791:(June 6, 1997)
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585:The Pink Sheet
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249:greeting cards
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180:Bernie Shulman
176:Sidney Dworkin
171:
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138:, was a major
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117:(1997 archive)
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825:Press Release
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323:consent order
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264:Hook's/SupeRx
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241:point-of-sale
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1082:Sav-on Drugs
1076:
1067:Peoples Drug
1025:Predecessors
996:MinuteClinic
991:CVS Caremark
986:CVS Pharmacy
974:Drivotrainer
952:Subsidiaries
903:
894:
882:. Retrieved
878:the original
868:
856:. Retrieved
851:
841:
829:. Retrieved
824:
800:
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749:. Retrieved
745:
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723:. Retrieved
719:
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678:
655:November 27,
653:. Retrieved
649:
639:
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609:
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588:. Retrieved
584:
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563:. Retrieved
559:
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538:. Retrieved
526:
517:
460:
445:prescription
441:
414:
407:
400:
391:loyalty card
387:
383:
307:CVS Pharmacy
304:
281:
261:
257:
253:drop ceiling
245:
234:
206:
192:
190:until 1987.
173:
164:CVS Pharmacy
131:
127:
123:
122:
93:Headquarters
25:
1128:Larry Merlo
1123:Thomas Ryan
1037:Big B Drugs
1032:Arbor Drugs
1001:Longs Drugs
725:January 24,
610:Answers.com
540:January 23,
503:Revco, D.S.
479:Jesse Owens
311:Clayton Act
272:Big B Drugs
144:Ohio Valley
132:Revco, D.S.
1210:CVS Health
1174:Categories
1106:Key people
945:CVS Health
497:References
416:Twins Days
343:microfiche
213:bankruptcy
203:Bankruptcy
158:under the
150:, and the
140:drug store
63:1956-08-24
1062:Osco Drug
858:April 28,
831:April 28,
770:complaint
751:April 28,
565:March 16,
535:0190-8286
509:Footnotes
467:Cleveland
420:Twinsburg
410:Marketing
357:records.
115:Revco.com
1011:Omnicare
884:June 15,
852:Speeches
590:March 1,
463:marathon
327:divested
317:and the
315:Virginia
292:monopoly
284:Rite Aid
270:, based
225:Rite Aid
217:Sam Zell
188:chairman
103:Products
83:Acquired
47:Pharmacy
43:Industry
1142:Related
675:"Revco"
633:. 1991.
475:jogging
170:History
111:Website
71:Defunct
61: (
53:Founded
1092:SupeRx
1042:Eckerd
900:"Home"
533:
487:Rt. 91
221:Eckerd
146:, the
1077:Revco
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805:order
789:31103
432:twins
351:fined
128:Revco
886:2007
860:2021
833:2021
753:2021
727:2019
657:2007
592:2019
567:2018
542:2019
531:ISSN
361:CEOs
223:and
178:and
79:Fate
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784:62
465:in
329:to
184:CEO
130:or
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