Despite speculation to the contrary, Tim’s Pharmacy & Gift Shop in Yelm is not closing or changing ownership. Instead, owners began remodeling the business in late July to provide an improved customer experience.
“People are walking in and they’re like, ‘Uh oh, Tim’s is closing,’ which is the opposite of what is happening,” general manager Joel Sponton said. “We are still open. There are no ownership changes. We will be open for business the entire time. We are not closing our doors at all.”
The two primary goals of the project is redoing the floors and lifting the ceiling.
Sponton said that the staff has wanted to remodel the store for years. After communicating with the City Council and the City of Yelm, the project is underway with a goal to be completed by the end of the year.
“We’re finally starting to get all of the ducks lined up in a row,” Sponton said. “We’ve been talking to the City quite a bit, and that’s all going really well.”
The only effect customers may notice during the remodel is the wall next to Holy Grounds Coffee on the far side of the store, behind which construction is taking place. Services that customers except at Tim’s Pharmacy are still the same.
“It’s a matter of splitting the store so that we can stay in business and not close. The wall is just so that they can work over there, and then we’ll flip,” Sponton said. “Once the wall comes down, that’s when we want people to come in and check out the progress.”
The remodeling project comes shortly after the store celebrated “Tim’s Pharmacy Day,” a proclamation awarded by the City of Yelm to recognize its 100 years of service. Sponton said that the team put a lot of thought into the design so that it is comfortable for customers and is efficient for the business.
“It will be modern and updated. We’re kind of bringing it up to the times, so to speak,” Sponton added. “We’re pretty excited about it.”
Tim’s Pharmacy is working with local companies to handle most of the construction, and its main contractor is Absolute Remodeling and Restoration, based in Roy.
Tim’s Pharmacy & Gift Shop, 106 First St. S, is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
