In recent months, several individuals have reported to the *Pharmaceutical Economics* reporter that Guangzhou's renowned special pharmacy has undergone a significant transformation. The store is reportedly relocating, its size has been reduced, and it has now become a modest, small-scale pharmacy. This shift has sparked concern, as this once-largest single-store pharmacy in the country now faces the possibility of disappearing from the market.
What exactly constitutes a "special big pharmacy"? Is it simply a pharmacy that is "specially large," or does it refer to a "special" type of large pharmacy? To better understand, some people have even asked for photos—especially since 2003, when cheap pharmacies began flooding the Guangzhou pharmaceutical retail market. At that time, local pharmacy representatives were curious about the scale of the special pharmacy.
Originally located in Shahe Department Store, the special pharmacy had five storefronts. It was said to occupy four floors, totaling 6,800 square meters—a massive space at the time. Now, six years later, how could such a well-known discount pharmacy fall so dramatically?
A sudden shift in size and status
To investigate the current situation of the special pharmacy’s relocation, the reporter visited Xianlie East Road in Guangzhou. This bustling street remains one of the most active commercial areas on the northeast side of the city.
On the same day, a shop on the first floor of a commercial building across from the former pharmacy was partially renovated. The signage had been altered, and the color scheme and logo still resembled those of the special pharmacy. Inside, a few workers were busy with renovations. From the reporter’s estimation, the new space is roughly 300 square meters. A nearby shoe store clerk mentioned that they heard the special pharmacy was moving in but weren’t sure if it would actually happen. They also questioned whether the pharmacy’s name would change after the move. With such a small area, how much business could the original owner realistically make? Since the previous owner hasn't been seen at the store, internal staff are unclear about the details, leaving many questions unanswered.
The first floor of the building now houses various shops selling jewelry, watches, and clothing. In the past, these stores were often vacant, and only a few clothing stores remained, offering heavy discounts. Their staff used to shout out “Big Sale!†to passersby. To reach the special pharmacy, visitors must take an elevator to the second floor, where an unobtrusive notice reads “Clearance of Daily Necessities†from the special pharmacy.
Currently, the pharmacy only operates on the second floor. Upon entering, the reporter observed that the daily necessities section was completely empty, while the medicine and health care shelves were neatly arranged. There were only about ten customers in the store, and the atmosphere was quiet and lifeless. A clerk mentioned that due to ongoing management decisions, the relocation plan was delayed. Some days ago, they were told the store would move, but then the news changed again, forcing them to pause the clearance event. The clerk clearly expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of moving to a smaller space.
Over the years, there have been numerous reports about the special pharmacy. It opened in May 2003 and immediately attracted national attention. In the following year, a branch in Wuyang New City was launched. Soon after, rumors of three shareholders surfaced, though the three denied any split. By the end of the year, another branch in Xinshidian opened smoothly, each with a business area of around 400–500 square meters. In October 2005, Lai Ruijin, a major shareholder of the special pharmacy, acquired shares from the other two, confirming the earlier rumors. However, by the end of 2005, the Wuyang New City store had to close due to lease contract issues. Similarly, the Wuyang Xincheng store closed in 2008 for the same reason. At that point, the number of special pharmacies dropped from three to just one, and the main store on Xianlie East Road shrank from 6,800 to 1,500 square meters. Plans to open new locations, which were announced earlier this year, were ultimately abandoned, and the owner has since moved out.
It is rumored that the new owner of the special pharmacy is not from the pharmaceutical industry, possibly involved in clothing. After the ownership change, the commercial buildings housing the pharmacies have been repurposed, leading to the scene described at the beginning of this article.
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