The Phoenix Stores was established in 1902, and after operating for over 100 years, the company is renowned for delivering quality products and outstanding service in a variety of retail divisions.
The Phoenix Stores is comprised of eight major pharmacies across the island: The Phoenix Centre Drug Store, Collector’s Hill Apothecary, Paget Pharmacy, Clarendon Pharmacy, Woodbourne Chemist, King Street Pharmacy, Dockyard Pharmacy and Warwick Pharmacy as well as seven retail locations including Phoenix First, The Annex Toys, P-Tech, P-Tech Photo Solutions, 59 Front and Brown & Co.
Amongst The Phoenix Stores is a diverse range of products including: Health and Beauty, Home Décor, Perfumes and Fragrances, Designer Sunglasses, Fashion Jewellery and Accessories, Consumer Electronics, Photo Development, Toys and Children’s Health and Safety, Souvenirs, Greeting Cards, Party Supplies, Books and Newsstand Publications.
The Phoenix Stores supports several community-based initiatives and local charities with programmes pertaining to educational and social development and has provided educational bursaries and scholarships to individuals pursuing degrees in medicine and pharmacy-related field.
Phoenix Building on corner of Queen and Reid Streets Hamilton, Bermuda purchased by a Mr. Grantham.
The Phoenix Drug Store was established and opened on November 5th, 1902. It was the first business house to be illuminated by electricity; this was generated by its own plant on the premises. That night the verandahs were ablaze with light -- a strange spectacle in those days of gas and oil illumination. People gathered from miles around to witness what was thought to be another Guy Fawkes display.
The Bermuda Drug Company was formed with The Phoenix as the flagship of the budding retail business. Principal shareholders being Laurion Conway Trott, Howard Mercer and William James Young.
The Phoenix became part of the US Rexall Drug Store family. This was surely one of the first franchises in Bermuda.
The Bermuda Drug Company Ltd. was formally incorporated into a limited liability company under Bermuda Law and the first Board of Directors was elected on October 30th 1922 and they were
The Famous Phoenix Clock purchased for the sum of five hundred pounds from Duncan McColl Doe, a jeweler from Hamilton. The bill of sale also included numerous other shop fittings. Prior to this purchase the clock had resided on Front Street and on the top of Queen Street.
John Gibson Young graduates from the Albany College of Pharmacy as a pharmacist and returns to Bermuda to start working as a Pharmacist at the Phoenix Drug Store.
Bermuda General Agency (developed as the wholesale arm of the business) sets up business in a building on the corner of Church and Parliament Streets
John Gibson Young and Reid Conway Trott join the Bermuda Drug Company Ltd. Board and the three ladies retired. Frank Titshall was appointed auditor.
Ewing Trott's services not required after May 31st 1946.
R. Conway Mayor Trott and Laurion Conway Trott resign as employess on June 30th 1946. William James Young resigns August 31st 1946. Howard Mercer resigns as mediator as of August 31st 1946 and is paid the sum of twenty-five pounds. All three individuals paid the sum of seventy-five pounds for a period of two years. Laurion Conway Trott and William James Young remain as directors. John Gibson Young is made General Manager.
L. Mercer Ward replaced Leon N. Perenchief on the Board and Mr. F. W. Williams was appointed auditor.
Wartime supplies commission approached with a review to revising markup percentage
Horace Ward joined the Board in place of Mr. Benoni Mello. Chemists hired at one thousand pounds per annum.
Reid Hall sold to the Trott Family at a price of sixty thousand pounds by a debenture issue at 4% per annum. Sale of Phoenix Building by H. A. & E. Smiths for sixty-two thousand and fifty pounds rejected.
Princess Elizabeth is crowned Queen Elizabeth II following the death of King George VI.
Howard C. Mercer resigns due to ill health and Mr. Henry J. Tucker elected.
The Patio -- Paget purchased from John Ferreira for the sum of two thousand pounds and Paget Pharmacy officially opens.
New retail shop in Bermudiana Building opened to showcase paperbacks and magazines. The Bookmart was born, rental at 125.00 UK pounds per month.
Board elected. John Gibson Young (chairman), Sir Henry Tucker, R. Conway Mayor Trott, Leon N. Perenchief and Horace E. Ward.
Devon Creamery amalgamated with Bermuda Creameries.
Reid Young joins as Manager of the Phoenix Stores.
Plaza Drug Store in Piggly Wiggly Plaza opened in Somerset, not doing well. Devon Creamery plant written off as it was not large enough to sustain growth.
Bermudiana (Hotel) Lobby Shop opened.
Gibson Ward Young and Mary Aline Tucker elected to Bermuda Drug Company Limited Board of Directors. Ronald W. Climenhaga attends as controller, Charles Kempe elected as auditor.
Reid Trott Young elected to Board in place of Mary Aline Tucker.
Woodbourne Chemist opened.
Bermuda leaves sterling area and the dollar becomes the currency.
Horace Ward retires from the Board of Directors and as General Manager of Bermuda General Agency.
Ward Young moves in as General Manager of Bermuda General Agency.
R. Conway Mayor Trott dies suddenly of a heart attack on April 2nd 1972 having been a director of the company since October 1935. Bermuda Drug Company Limited celebrates 70 years.
McDonalds and Bermuda Drug Company Limited in active discussions over franchise. Lease secured for property owned by Walter Cardie Bluck estate on present site of Bank of Bermuda Compass Point Building.
Cummings Vail Zuill joins the Bermuda Drug Company Ltd. Board of Directors.
Douglas Sellars joins as Controller replacing Martin Clarkson.
Collectors Hill Apothecary opens in Smith's Parish on site of Knick Knack Shop.
The Arches Dispensary opens.
Leon Norton Perenchief dies after fifty-three years of service.
Collectors Hill Apothecary opens in Smith's Parish on site of Knick Knack Shop.
The Arches Dispensary opens.
Leon Norton Perenchief dies after fifty-three years of service.
St. George's Druggist opens as the newest Phoenix Store
BPSA recognized as bargaining unit for Bermuda Drug Company Ltd. pharmacists.
Bermuda Pharmacy Limited purchased from William McPhee. This included Eve-McPhee Ltd.
Bermudiana Lobby Shop sold.
Princess Shop and mall shop closed.
Ward Young elected President and CEO of Bermuda Drug Company Ltd.
Bermuda Drug Company Ltd. changes its name to BDC LTD.
Shelly Bay property known as the Stables purchased from Charles Marshall for $1,800,000 and was earmarked for a new warehouse for Bermuda General Agency. BGA building sold to the Bank of Bermuda Ltd. for $2,500,000.
Rural Hill Plaza Ltd. and Reid Hall Limited incorporated for the purpose of the development of the land currently used of Paget Pharmacy and the Annex. Rural Hill Plaza construction started using the Gilbert Lopes Construction company.
Old Phoenix Building renovated and bottom floor rented to Aston and Gunn owned by TESS Ltd.
Reid Hall completed in March 1990.
Phoenix Clock moved to Reid Street location on Sunday, March 4th 1990. Time capsule located under clock for reopening in the year 2040.
Scanning introduced at Phoenix Stores.
BDC LTD. purchases all the operations of Purvis Distributors Limited including the Mill Creek facility for the value of inventory and a goodwill figure of sales, solidifying its presence in the grocery business with grade A lines such as Procter and Gamble, Clorox, Kelloggs, Hunt-Wesson, Cadburys, Dole, etc.
Cris Valdes-Dapena appointed Director and Controller on June 10th 1992. Louie Fourie returns to Canada.
Fernance B. Perry invests in BDC LTD. and joins Board providing much needed capital.
Robert D. Skelley hired as Chief Operations Manager of the Bermuda General Agency as the name is changed to the BGA Group of Companies.
Raymond Brackstone and Ian F. T. Kennedy join Board of Directors.
James P. Campbell installed as Controller BDC LTD.
BGA Group divest themselves of food service and frozen lines.
Rob Skelley was promoted to President and CEO of the BGA Group of Companies.
Ward Young takes over as President and CEO of BDC Ltd. As Mr. John Gibson Young steps down as Chairman.
John Gibson Young resigns as Chairman and Director after a long illness.
Ian F. T. Kennedy resigns as Director.
Fernance B. Perry elected as Chairman of BDC LTD.
Reid Trott Young resigns as Director and President of Phoenix Stores Limited as of July 1st, 1996 and Ward Young purchases his shareholding to become the single largest shareholder of BDC LTD. Linda Young resigns as Manager of the Bookmart.
Laurion Trott McGehee, grandson of Laurion Conway Trott and Manager Phoenix Stores Limited, resigns to move to the United States.
Edmina Bradshaw installed as Manager Phoenix Centre. Kim Young, wife of Ward Young, joins as Bookmart Manager.
Stephen H. R. Young, son of Reid T. Young leaves BDC LTD. to enter offshore field.
Portion of Mills Creek Facility sold to Clermont Investments.
Phoenix Drug Store undergoes massive refit as Hallmark Card section moved upstairs to make way for better layout on main floor.
On June 27th, BDC LTD. purchases Fernance B. Perry (Mayfair Ltd.) shareholding and Ward Young becomes majority shareholder of BDC LTD.
Lady Swan, Carol West, Susan D. Wilson and Bruce Gordon elected to the BDC LTD. Board.
Edmina Bradshaw resigned.
Kim Young elected to House of Parliament as MP for Paget East.
George Grundmüller, Vice President, BGA Group of Companies appointed as President & CEO of Phoenix Stores Ltd.
Kim Young elected to House of Parliament as MP for Paget East.
John Gibson Young reopens Collectors Hill Apothecary after the store undergoes massive refit.
Phoenix Stores installs state of the art pharmacy computer system.
"Charge it 'n fly" programme introduced offering customers one American Airlines® AAdvantage Mile for every dollar charged to the Phoenix Charge Card.
John Gibson Young, JP, former Chairman and Director of BDC Ltd., passes away. He was much respected in the community and much loved by his BDC family.
Ward Young purchases Clarendon Pharmacy and Warehouse from the shareholders and the family of the late Mr. Nigel Price.
Bermuda Pharmacy on Pitt's Bay Road closes.
Annex Toys launches "Baby Zone" to expand their product line of developmental toys, cribs, strollers and carseats for newborns to 36 months.
Phoenix Group and the BGA Group of Companies changes hands. Ward Young, President of BDC LTD announced the purchase of BDC2000 (which holds the two companies) by C.T. Famous Ltd., owned by Wendall Brown. The transaction was structured and financed by The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited.
Phoenix Stores Ltd., purchases Point Finger Road Pharmacy from Dr. Wong of the Medical Centre.
1902 - 2002: 100 years of caring for Bermuda! As we proudly celebrate our Centennial this November, Phoenix goes boldly towards the future with a nod to the past. Our comprehensive history gives us the confidence to strive to be the very best at what we do - as well as the humility that comes with knowing that we can always do better.
For 100 years Phoenix Stores Ltd., has kept pace with Bermuda’s development by expanding our services and our stores to meet your needs. With a flagship store in the very heart of Hamilton and 5 outlying stores it means always being ready to serve our valued customers in any one of our locations – always prepared to provide service and caring 7 days a week. Our dedicated staff and professional group of pharmacists aim to exceed your expectations when shopping at the Phoenix.
