For over sixty years, the people of El Paso, TX have trusted Alameda Thrifty Pharmacy with their health. Not only do they provide a full array of important services, the pharmacy team also treats patients like members of their "phamily." Without a doubt, the Alameda Thrifty staff truly cares for the community they serve. El Paso pride even shines through in the pharmacy's logo which features the mountains that ring the city complete with the El Paso Star. Dr. Laura Quijas, Pharm.D. gave us some insight into how the pharmacy started and how far they've come today.

Family First

From the very beginning, Alameda Thrifty has been a family-focused pharmacy. Dr. Quijas told us, "Our pharmacy opened in 1958 in El Paso, Texas and is still owned and operated by the Estrada family to this day 63 years later! Mr. Miguel B. Estrada Jr. graduated from UT Austin College of Pharmacy in 1955, served in the U.S. Army, and upon returning from Korea opened his own pharmacy." After he retired, Mr. Estrada passed the business down to his son Mark Estrada, CEO and his granddaughter, Dr. Quijas.

Believe it or not, the Estradas are not the only family that makes up the Alameda Thrifty team. Of the pharmacy's 8 full-time staff members, four of them are siblings: Cesar, Martha, May, and Sayra. The pharmacy staff spreads the family feeling to their customers as well, many of whom they know by name. 

Members of the Alameda Thrifty team with founders Mr. and Mrs. Miguel Estrada  

Quality Care Since 1958

It's no coincidence that Alameda Thrifty Pharmacy is El Paso's oldest independent pharmacy; providing both important pharmacy services and friendly, personalized care has proven to be the recipe for success. As Dr. Quijas puts it, "We are pharmacy people who love people!" The staff works hard to treat patients with the individual attention they deserve. Dr. Quijas added, "We call our patients up to the pharmacy check-out when their meds are ready by walking out to meet them in the lobby, not just by yelling their name."

The staff at Alameda Thrifty Pharmacy aims to make health and wellness convenient for the citizens of El Paso. Patients can utilize their home delivery services for prescriptions, OTCs, CBD, gifts, puzzles, and more. They offer VIP memberships for those without insurance and for those who benefit from prescription medication blister packaging that also includes free home delivery, discount on items in the pharmacy, and an annual medication review with a pharmacist.

Festive at the pharmacy! The Alameda team loves when they have the chance to dress up for holidays and spirit days

El Paso Strong

Beyond regular pharmacy services, Alameda Thrifty also works to support their community in any way they can. They offer free blood pressure and glucose screenings, and prior to COVID they hosted the El Paso Food Bank in their parking lot to provide food to those in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pharmacy staff worked hard to provide members of their community with the vaccine.

As a small business, it's also important to the pharmacy staff to partner with other El Paso-area businesses. Quijas told us, "We love supporting other local businesses and carry many different local vendors in our pharmacy such as candies, tumblers, wood puzzles, and more." Alameda Thrifty also supports local schools of pharmacy by hosting pharmacist-interns and all of their pharmacists are preceptors with the college. El Paso has a large Spanish-speaking population, so the entire staff speaks both English and Spanish. 

Two pharmacy patients are all smiles after receiving COVID vaccines from Dr. Quijas

Embracing the Fun Side of Pharmacy

Alameda Thifty has been using FLAVORx to help kids take medicine since 2015. To help get the word out about their flavoring service, the pharmacy even filmed a commercial that aired on a local tv station. Dr. Quijas told us, "We love to explain how just a slight taste change can make a huge impact in ease of use for most liquid medications. We like to get our patients involved with seeing how the flavoring process happens and we have had our patients win the FLAVORx-sponsored giveaways and come back in the pharmacy super happy!" 

Dr. Quijas adds a favorite flavor to a patient's medication

The FLAVORx team would like to thank everyone at Alameda Thrifty Pharmacy for all of the hard work they do for their patients. We are glad to have the chance to share their story! If you are interested in being featured as our next FLAVORx Pharmacy of the Month, please send an email to ctaylor@flavorx.com.