SupeRx

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Hook's Drug Stores

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Founded	1900
Defunct	1994
Fate	Purchased by Revco
Successor	CVS, following Revco acquisition
Headquarters	Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Products	Pharmacy, cosmetics, health and beauty products, general merchandise, snacks

Hook's Drug Stores was a pharmacy chain headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, established in 1900 by John A. Hook. The company grew steadily across central Indiana throughout much of the 20th century.

The business operated under the Hook's name within its primary market, as well as the SupeRX Drug Stores brand in regions beyond its core territory. After acquiring the New England-based Brooks Pharmacy chain, Hook's also managed stores under that banner. Eventually, the entire enterprise was acquired by the Midwestern drugstore company Revco.

Following Revco's purchase by CVS in the late 1990s, most former Hook's outlets that remain open today have been rebranded as CVS stores. Meanwhile, Revco divested the Brooks Pharmacy locations, many of which now function as Rite Aid outlets.

Hook's Drug

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A representative Hook's store located in New Castle, Indiana circa 1974

The first Hook's Drug Store was launched in October 1900 by pharmacist John A. Hook at the intersection of South East and Prospect Streets in what is currently known as the Bates-Hendricks area, then predominantly inhabited by German-American residents. A second store followed in 1907 at New Jersey and East Washington Streets, where Edward F. Roesch was employed to manage operations. By 1912, the chain had grown to include twelve stores. Several of Hook's drugstores built between World War I and World War II were designed by architect Kurt Vonnegut Sr. of Vonnegut & Bohn.

After John A. Hook passed away in 1943, Edward F. Roesch assumed the presidency of the company. Following Roesch’s death in a vehicular accident in 1956, leadership transitioned to August F. "Bud" Hook, son of the founder, who became president and later chairman in 1972. Edward J.F. Roesch, son of Edward F., served as vice president and was a longstanding board member. The original store was torn down in 1941. In 1963, headquarters were relocated to a new facility in Indianapolis. Between 1946 and 1972, nearly all existing locations—except two—were replaced with approximately 150 updated stores. By the year 1978, the chain had expanded to operate around 250 outlets.

Beginning in 1977, Hook’s launched a series of Convalescent Aid Centers; by 1994 this network had grown to encompass thirty sites. As of 1982, Hook’s operated a total of 267 stores across Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, ranking fourteenth nationally by number of outlets and nineteenth based on sales volume.

Hook's-SupeRx

In 1985, Rite Aid sought to acquire Hook's, but to circumvent this, Hook's opted to sell to Kroger instead. Kroger, which had been involved in the pharmacy sector for 25 years following its 1960 purchase of a small New Jersey chain, had established its own SupeRx Drugs brand by 1961. By 1969, Kroger was operating 361 locations across 23 states. The acquisition of Hook's was anticipated to strengthen Kroger’s drugstore division.

Nevertheless, only a year post-acquisition, Kroger embarked on a reorganization strategy that led to the divestiture of its drugstore segment, which included 540 Superx and 330 Hook's outlets. In December 1986, Kroger sold 662 Hook and SupeRx stores through a leveraged buyout to an investment consortium. During the same month, five stores in the St. Louis market were sold to Medicare-Glaser, while Rite Aid acquired another 115 Superx stores located in Florida and Georgia. By February 1987, Kroger completed its exit from the drugstore business by selling the remaining 48 SupeRx outlets in Arizona, Alabama, and Georgia to the former president of the chain. Subsequently, Hook's operated as part of the privately held entity Hook's-SupeRx, with its headquarters relocating from Indianapolis to Cincinnati.

In 1988, Hook's-SupeRx expanded by acquiring the New England–based Brooks Pharmacy chain. Following this acquisition, the company maintained three distinct brand identities: Hook's Drug and SupeRx in the Midwest region and Brooks Pharmacy throughout New England. In 1992, Hook-SupeRx conducted its initial public offering (IPO), formally separating from its former supplier under Kroger ownership. At that point, the company managed approximately 400 pharmacies across Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky.

Sale to Revco

In 1994, Hook's-SupeRx was purchased by Revco for $600 million. This acquisition, which included 1,150 stores, effectively doubled Revco's footprint, expanded its presence into 13 new states, and established it as the nation's second-largest drugstore chain. Locations in Indiana retained the Hook's branding following the acquisition. Meanwhile, Jean Coutu Group took over 221 Brooks Pharmacy outlets in the New England region. Additionally, Hook's-SuperRx stores situated in Michigan and the Chicago metropolitan area were divested. The remaining stores were rebranded as Revco locations. As part of the transition, Revco relocated Hook's-SupeRx corporate headquarters from Cincinnati to Twinsburg.

Three years later, in 1997, Revco itself was acquired by CVS. Numerous former Hook's outlets have since been converted into CVS Pharmacies, although the Hook's-SuperRx name continued to be used internally within the organization.

Hook's Historical Drugstore Museum

In August 1966, to honor the 150th anniversary of Indiana's statehood, the company inaugurated a historical drugstore museum. This museum features a meticulously restored 19th-century Hook's drugstore located within the Indiana State Fairgrounds and remains a favored highlight during the annual Indiana State Fair. Originally constructed in 1849, the store has been authentically refurbished using period-appropriate cabinetry from both the 19th century and Hook's inaugural location.

Initially intended as a temporary display lasting three months, the exhibit evolved into a permanent fixture, with soda fountain services introduced in 1971. Hook's maintained operation of the museum until its acquisition by Revco in 1994, after which it was transferred to a nonprofit entity.

Hook's Oxygen and Medical Equipment

Following Hook's acquisition by Revco, the Oxygen and Medical Equipment outlets continued operating under the Hook's brand at many of their original sites. Subsequently, these operations became part of Rotech Medical Corporation as a subsidiary.

Hook's Apothecary

In 1999, John A. Hook’s great-grandchildren established Hook's Apothecary in Evansville, Indiana. This pharmacy focuses on prescription compounding and operates independently without any affiliation to CVS.

External links

• Hook's Drug Store Museum and Soda Fountain
• Hook's Apothecary
• SupeRx TV Commercial