Adams Drug Company

Adams Drug Company

Company type	Privately held company
Industry	Retail
Founded	1932 (1932) in Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Founders	Leonard Salmanson along with family members Barnett, Samuel, Donald, and Charles
Defunct	1986 (1986)
Fate	Purchased and rebranded
Successor	Brooks Pharmacy (subsequently Rite Aid)
Headquarters	Connecticut , United States
Number of locations	500 stores at its peak
Area served	Northeastern United States
Products	Pharmaceutical drugs, cosmetics, tobacco products, camera accessories, and health and wellness items
Number of employees	5,000 (1984)

Adams Drug Company was a U.S.-based drugstore chain established in the 1930s by Leonard Salmanson.

History

The Salmanson family—Barnett along with his sons Leonard I., Samuel, Donald, and Charles—launched their inaugural Adams Drug Company outlets in 1932 located in Woonsocket and Pawtucket, Rhode Island. These stores offered a variety of health and beauty products alongside general merchandise.

Through strategic growth and acquisitions, Adams evolved into one of the nation's largest drugstore networks, operating over 500 locations across 14 states and employing upwards of 5,000 individuals.

Under Leonard Salmanson's direction, the family diversified their portfolio by venturing into manufacturing and real estate. They acquired Gong Bell Mfg. Co. in East Hampton, Connecticut, a toy manufacturer; Clover Bead & Jewelry Co. based in Pawtucket; and Colt Plastics Co. located in North Grosvernordale, Connecticut.

In addition to these ventures, the Salmansons actively sought industrial development opportunities by founding entities such as the Ivy Co., which purchased the former Raycrest Mills in Pawtucket; Wanskuck Buildings Inc., responsible for redeveloping the old Wanskuck Mills in Providence; and the Drake Co., which acquired and developed an approximately 180,000-square-foot (17,000 m²) industrial property on Webster Street in Pawtucket.

Many observersTemplate:Who trace the origins of Brooks Pharmacy back to Adams Drug Company. During this period, Adams had incorporated several hundred Brooks Drug stores primarily in Vermont and New York while also operating various other brand names across the Northeast.

In 1984, the Florida-based supermarket chain Pantry Pride acquired Adams Drug Company, which at that time operated roughly 500 stores throughout the Northeastern United States. The subsequent year saw Pantry Pride itself being purchased by Ronald Perelman's Revlon subsidiary through a corporate takeover. Shortly following this acquisition, in 1986, all Adams outlets were rebranded under the Brooks name.

In 2023, Rite Aid, which succeeded Brooks Pharmacy, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On May 5, 2025, Rite Aid entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection once again within two years, reporting assets and liabilities ranging from $1 billion to $10 billion.