HISTORIC SHOT: Betting on Pharma’s Future

Maricopa’s retail landscape saw a significant addition in early 2004 when the community welcomed its first Walgreens store at the intersection of John Wayne Parkway and Smith-Enke Road. Photographic evidence from that period features a storefront proudly displaying a “NOW OPEN” banner, along with a freshly painted parking lot.

The initial success prompted Walgreens to establish a second location at The Wells in 2007. However, the onset of the Great Recession forced the store into a prolonged hiatus, as corporate officials deemed the local economy and population insufficient to support two stores. Corporate spokesman Robert Elfinger noted in 2010 that the economic downturn necessitated a reconsideration of operations in Maricopa. “Let’s just say the economy needs to return,” he remarked.

It wasn’t until 2020 that the second Walgreens finally opened, arriving amidst another economic downturn as communities continued to navigate the challenges posed by the global landscape.

Brian Petersheim Jr. is a crime and breaking news reporter for InMaricopa, having joined the newsroom in October 2020 after his studies at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.