Hart & Dilatush Pharmacy, a longtime drugstore in downtown Spokane, has moved to the Bank of America Financial Center after operating for 34 years in part of the Ridpath Hotel complex.


The pharmacy, which has been in business here since 1918, moved late last month to a 1,300-square-foot space at 601 W. Riverside, in the southwest corner of the Bank of America buildings ground floor, says owner Dan Reidt. Since 1974, the pharmacy had been located in an 1,800-square-foot space at 501 W. Sprague, in the corner of the Halliday Building on the east side of the Ridpath Hotel. Prior to that, it was located in a building across Sprague Avenue from there, which has since been torn down.


Reidt says he moved the pharmacy because the Halliday Building had changed hands recently, and the new owners had increased the rent and were planning on converting the building to office condominiums.


Hart & Dilatush has seven employees and likely will hire another as business picks up in its new location, Reidt says.


Theres more foot traffic here, and once people realize theres a pharmacy here, were expecting business is going to increase considerably, he says.


Reidt says the pharmacys space wont be included in the upcoming remodeling work at the Bank of America building. Seattle-based Unico Properties LLC, which bought the high-rise last year, announced plans earlier this month to update parts of the property.


Contact Emily Proffitt at (509) 344-1265 or via e-mail at emilyp@spokanejournal.com.