Richard “Dicky” Flye, president and CEO of Mast Family Drug Company, was on Wednesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the new Mast Drug Store building currently under construction on Dabney Drive in Henderson.
The new building, to be located on the Mast Drug-owned property beside Quick Print, will offer “better coverage, a bigger store and more products for our customers,” according to Flye.
Originally hoping to open the doors of the new location to customers in August of this year, weather delays have pushed the expected opening date back to September. According to Flye, the additional services and space offered by the new building will be well worth the wait.
“We are not going away; we are excited about being on Dabney Drive,” Flye said. “It’s going to be a bigger drug store with more services and will provide more jobs for the town.”
Construction is underway on the new Mast Drug building to be located beside Quick Print on Dabney Dr. in Henderson. (WIZS Photo)
Those that have lived in the local area for a while may remember a time when the Quick Print Building on Dabney Drive was a Henderson Drug location.
“Yes, that building was originally considered Henderson Drug #2 and the [current Mast Drug] location at 501 South Chestnut St. was Henderson Drug #1,” Flye explained.
When Mast and partner Charles Barnett parted ways years ago, Barnett continued to run a drug store at the Dabney Drive location for a number of years before eventually moving his business farther down the street.
Today, Flye, wife Beth and sister-in-law Susan, run the day-to-day operations of Mast Drug Company along with their children. Flye said it is his father-in-law’s simple philosophy that keeps the family pharmacy running.
“Whatever I say about Bill is an understatement. He was not only a great businessman, but he is also a great man. He’s done a lot for this town, a lot of it behind the scenes. He has a simple philosophy – take care of your customers – and he means that. He did just that; he did it quietly and he did it consistently.”
With over 50 years and three generations of family members in the pharmaceutical business, Flye said, “We are still in it for one reason – to give quality service to local residents that the big box stores don’t do as readily or as easily. There is still a market for that; we don’t see it going away.”
In fact, Mast Drug Company, which owns real estate both in town and throughout central NC, is looking to expand its operations into eastern NC.
“We see the big box stores leaving small towns, especially in eastern NC, so we are looking to expand into some of the opportunities that are out there,” said Flye.
Even with expansion plans on the horizon, Flye assures that he and family are devoted to their hometown business, “We’ve been here a long time and our family is committed to Henderson.”
To hear the Town Talk interview with Dicky Flye in its entirety, click here.
