Having been in business for more than 100 years, The Phoenix Stores knows retailing. Originally run by the Young family, the Phoenix drug store first opened on November 5, 1902 on the corner of Queen and Reid Streets in Hamilton,

The Bermuda Drug Company (BDC) was later formed (in 1910) with the Phoenix as its flagship store. Principal shareholders included Bermudians Laurion Conway Trott, Howard Mercer and William James Young.

In 1922, BDC was formally incorporated into a limited liability company under Bermuda law and opened a toy store called Bon Marché, later to be renamed The Annex.

Six years later, the trademark clock was purchased from a local jeweller and moved from its Front street location to Queen Street.

In 1947, the first chemists — now known as pharmacists — joined the group. And by then, the Phoenix Group consisted of four branches — BGA (a separate company), The Annex, the Phoenix Store, and Heyl’s Drug Store (now the Irish Linen Shop).

In 1952, the Phoenix Drug Store celebrated its golden anniversary and the following year the Phoenix Group purchased the Patio in Paget. Fourteen years later, in 1966, both the lobby shop at the Bermudiana Hotel and the Woodbourne Chemist opened. And Collector’s Hill Apothecary opened in 1975 along with The Arches dispensary, which closed a year later. The St. George’s Druggist opened for business in 1977.

In 1982, however, the Bermudiana lobby shop, St. George’s Druggist, the Princess Shop and the Mall shop closed.

But the Phoenix Stores continued to move forward, computerising its dispensing system in 1987. And in 1990, the Phoenix clock was moved to its current location with a time capsule placed underneath. Product scanning was also introduced in 1990, and the Phoenix acquired Weldon Ltd.

In 1992, BDC purchased Purvis Distributors, solidifying its presence in the grocery business. And in 1997, the Phoenix underwent a massive refit to incorporate Hallmark cards in the upstairs section of the store.

In 1997, George Grundmuller, then vice-president of the BGA Group of Companies, was appointed president and CEO of Phoenix Stores Ltd. And that same year, a state-of-the-art pharmacy computer system was installed enabling all Phoenix Stores to be networked.

The Phoenix Group and BDC were taken over by Bermudian businessman Wendall Brown in 2000.

Since then, the store has continued to expand and diversify. The group bought neighbouring store Stuart’s in 2004 and relaunched it as P-Tech. At the same time, the Phoenix Centre was expanded into the rear of the former Stuart’s store.

Last year, a separate subsidiary, Brown & Co., took over the lease of the former HA&E Smith department store across the road on Reid Street and moved the Bookmart and Hallmark stores into the Reid Street space.

Renovations are now underway on the Front Street part of the building. Watch this space for more developments by the Phoenix Group!

In a 2002 interview, Mr. Grundmuller, noting that 100 years in business was a major milestone, said: “It is remarkable that this company has been around for 100 years and it has been servicing the community for that amount of time.

“It is a really exciting time,” he said, adding that he had seen remarkable growth over the last few years.

“We have expanded our product offerings and we carry close to 100,000 different items now,” he said. “We also carry a lot more seasonal and specialty items, which seem to do very well.”