Construction Starts on Discount Drug Mart

Work has started on turning the former Vigliucci's Bi-Rite store at the corner of Prospect and Royalton roads into a .

Crews are tearing off the front of the building for an expansion that will include a drive-through pharmacy. When it's done, Drug Mart will operate a 27,960-square-foot store there.

"Things are moving," Economic Development Director Brent Painter said. "They're starting to take down parts of the old building."

Plans for the project were approved by the city's Planning Commission in February.

So far, at the Royalville Plaza has been relocating existing stores, including and .

An opening date has not been set for Discount Drug Mart.

Drug Mart sought to build a 25,000-square-foot store on a vacant parcel across the street from the Royalville Plaza in 2010, but the plan required a zoning change from residential to business. 

Citywide, the rezoning was approved, but voters in Ward 4, where the project lies, turned down the ballot issue.