Ranya Kadi, RPh, has opened the Edwardsburg Pharmacy. The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)

Ranya Kadi has worked as a pharmacist for 21 years throughout Michiana.

When customers in Edwardsburg were in need of a local pharmacy, she left the chain organizations she had been working for and opened her own business.

Edwardsburg Pharmacy opened recently and is a full-service pharmacy. It is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Edwardsburg Pharmacy accepts most insurances including Medicare and Medicaid. Kadi, who employs a cashier and two technicians, also delivers and will mail medication to customers who cannot come in and get it.

She said people can expect friendly and fast service when they come in.

Kadi worked at several chain pharmacies, including Hooks and for the last five years, Walgreens.

“I know a lot of customers who follow me from Edwardsburg and the town needed a pharmacy, so I decided to open here,” she said. “I have always worked for a chain. This is my first time as an owner.”

For most business owners, finding a location is one of the most difficult parts. But Kadi said her customers gave her a lead on the building she now occupies at 69045 M-62, Suite G.

“It’s hard work,” Kadi said about opening a business. “There is a lot of paper work and a lot of applications. I had to apply for like five licenses.”

Business has been a bit slow to begin, but with customers going to Elkhart, Ind. or Granger, Ind. or Cassopolis, Kadi feels that things will pick up once they realize they can purchase their medications right in their own home town.

Edwardsburg Pharmacy is not a large facility like one of the chain stores, but it carries a full line of medicines and also had over-the-counter products, general merchandise and Kadi will be adding some grocery-type items soon since Edwardsburg is also without a grocery store.

Another of the features she has available to customers is that they offer weekly medicine boxes for those who need to keep their medications straight on a daily basis. The cost is just $6 (medicines not included) and they are delivered on Friday or by special request within the Edwardsburg village limits.