FARMINGTON — An independent pharmacy is planning to open for business in August.

A space in the Mt. Blue Shopping Plaza, formerly the site of the Movie Gallery, has been leased to open as Mt. Blue Drug, said Renee Targett of Empire Property Management, which oversees the shopping center on Routes 2 and 4.

Pharmacy contact Jason Pratt said once licensing permits are secured, the pharmacy hopes to open in early August.

The pharmacy joins other businesses opening this summer in the shopping plaza, Targett said.

A Farmington native, Pratt will serve as a pharmacist in the proposed pharmacy, an expansion of Variety Drug in Skowhegan where he’s worked for eight years. The Farmington store will be set up similar to the Skowhegan store.

Pratt became interested in becoming a pharmacist after working for Jim and Rob Witt at Howard’s Rexall, he said.

Good customer service in a timely fashion and in a pleasant way is the answer to success for an independent pharmacy amongst the larger retail pharmacies, he said.

A national retail business, Fastenal, will open its 16th branch in Maine during the second week in July, said Alan Ayer from the Auburn location.

The company is leasing 3,500 square feet in a portion of the former Aubuchon and pet shop site in the shopping center, Targett said.

The national company started in the 1960s providing nuts and bolts. Now they offer just about anything in industrial supply, including tools, hardware, chemicals, electrical cords, cutting tools and more, Ayer said.

Featuring a retail showroom for walk-in customers, space is also planned for inventory wanted by local contractors. The company already has several customers in the Farmington-Rumford area, including local paper mills and contractors, but the nearest location is about an hour away, he said. The Farmington store provides a strategic location for the entire area.

Another portion of the shopping center formerly used by Gentiva Health Services has been split into 11 individual spaces plus a reception area, Targett said. Three of the spaces have already been leased.

A woman’s boutique, Ily Boutique, is expected to open in early July, owner Sheryl Bourgault said. She intends to offer new women’s clothing in junior, misses and women’s sizes along with a few upscale used clothing items. 

The boutique will also feature handmade jewelry and handbags by local artists and some designer handbags. 

Two other businesses have already opened.

On June 4 Alana Ranney opened Afine Photo, where she offers studio photography, including portraits of children, maternity photos and her fine art featuring nature and landscape photography, she said.

Ranney moved to the area from Cutler a couple years ago but has had her photography business for about 10 years. The new space will allow her to provide backdrops and props for theme photos, she said.

The second business, Print, Press and Personalize,  offers sublimation printing where the dye goes beneath the surface of a variety of items, said owner Sonja Walker of Strong.

After years of working at Strong Elementary School, Walker researched new ideas for this area and bought pieces of equipment and materials to open the store.

With new dye ink technology,  Walker can take a customer’s photograph and permanently print it on a variety of items, which she sells in her shop.

Businesses or offices interested in space can contact Targett at 778-9600 or 491-7388.

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