Hoodline Highlights: The Evolution Of Reliable Rexall, Explained

Hoodline Highlights: The Evolution Of Reliable Rexall, ExplainedPhoto: Walter Thompson/Hoodline
Walter Thompson
Published on December 30, 2016

To close out 2016, we've asked our local neighborhood writers to choose their favorite stories from the past year, and to explain why they loved them so.

Today, we hear from Inner Sunset/Cole Valley neighborhood editor Walter Thompson:

I reported more than 100 stories  this year, but one story was so compelling, we broke it into two parts: Inner Sunset's Reliable Rexall Sold To New Owners After Inspectors Find Serious Code Violations and Rexall's New Owners To Change Name, Update Equipment—But Keep Vintage Look.

Each day, tens of thousands of people see this pharmacy from the window of the N-Judah, so when we learned that the former owner had been forced to sell for alleged safety violations, we investigated. The story didn’t end there; the new pharmacists have extensive plans for reviving this long-standing business and engaging the neighborhood, so we reported that as well.

Several customers contacted us after the story ran to thank us for the coverage; a few said the story was hard-hitting, but fair, which was rewarding to hear.

Below is an excerpt from the first story, published on August 12th, 2016.

On June 2nd, Samuel C.H. Ching, owner of Reliable Rexall Sunset Pharmacy at 9th & Irving, voluntarily surrendered his pharmacist license and permit after a state investigation uncovered serious code violations. The investigation found incidents in which medications were improperly stored, incorrectly labeled, and, in some cases, dispensed to the wrong patients ...

Click to continue reading Walter's favorite Inner Sunset stories of 2016, Inner Sunset's Reliable Rexall Sold To New Owners After Inspectors Find Serious Code Violations and Rexall's New Owners To Change Name, Update Equipment—But Keep Vintage Look.