Still Saving You the
Runaround
for 57 Years and Counting
Our Founder
Parviz Boodjeh was born in Tehran in 1927 and came to the United States in 1949 with determination and only a few dollars in his pocket. He earned his pharmacy degree from the University of Toledo, where he met and married Mildred, his lifelong partner and the foundation of Discount Drug Mart’s success. Together, they built a business rooted in hard work, humility, and care for their community.
1969:
The Beginning
Discount Drug Mart opened in Elyria in 1969, founded by pharmacist Parviz Boodjeh. His idea was simple. Pair the personal care of a pharmacy with the everyday convenience of a neighborhood store. That idea grew into a generational tradition that saves Ohioans the runaround.
Mr. Boodjeh had the foresight to pick locations where the population would grow. A prime example is store #1, which sits on what was a vacant field and is now a 4-lane main thoroughfare with new subdivisions built in the 60s and 70s, close to a community college.
From its earliest days, Discount Drug Mart offered medical equipment products in its retail stores, reflecting the company’s commitment to supporting the health and wellness needs of the communities it serves.
1970s:
Growth Takes Root
With the success of the first store, Discount Drug Mart quickly became a household name across northern Ohio. The company’s promise of low prices, personal service, and everything under one roof resonated with families. Drug Mart not only supplied grocery staples, but hardware, clothing, laundry aids, and health and beauty supplies. The cosmetic department offered the latest trends in hair care, styling aids, and designer fragrances, along with nationally recognized makeup lines and advice from trained beauty advisors.
The Courtesy Center launched, allowing customers to pay bills, buy stamps, ship packages, and even purchase hunting and fishing licenses — all while picking up their prescriptions or household items.
Each new store followed the same model: serve the community and make shopping simple.
1980s:
Laying the Foundation for Growth
To support continued growth, Discount Drug Mart established its distribution center and corporate office, creating a stronger foundation for operations and helping stores stay stocked, efficient, and ready to serve customers across Northeast Ohio.
This warehouse served the company well until rapid expansion required a larger distribution center.
1990s:
A Family of Stores
Discount Drug Mart continued expanding across the state, opening locations in central and southern Ohio. During this time, stores also broadened their selection of consumables, giving customers more grocery, food, beverage, and everyday household options alongside pharmacy and health essentials.
The Boodjeh family and a growing team of long-term employees led the way, creating a workplace culture built on respect and shared purpose.
2000s:
Community and Care
As the company grew, so did its commitment to giving back. Discount Drug Mart began supporting local schools, health initiatives, and community projects across Ohio. Parviz received an honorary doctorate from the University of Toledo, later donating more than $1 million to its College of Pharmacy.
2010s:
A True Ohio Institution
Discount Drug Mart celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of service and expansion. From one store to dozens across the state, the company strengthened its reputation as Ohio’s hometown drug store, still locally owned, still focused on saving customers the runaround.
Through the acquisition of Hastings Home Health Center, Discount Drug Mart expanded into the Home Medical Equipment industry and established Professional Medical Equipment & Services (PMES) as a dedicated division. Serving the state of Ohio, PMES works closely with physicians, hospitals, referral partners, and respiratory therapists to provide respiratory care, mobility equipment, enteral nutrition, and other home medical solutions that help patients remain safe and independent at home.
2017:
Ownership from Within
In 2017, Discount Drug Mart became an employee-ownership company (Employee Stock Ownership Plan or ESOP), giving employees an ownership stake in the business they helped build. The transition ensured the company would remain proudly Ohio-based and locally owned, preserving its culture of care, integrity, and community for generations to come.
2020s:
The Immunization Destination®
Discount Drug Mart became known as the “Immunization Destination®,” helping communities across Ohio access critical vaccines and healthcare services when they were needed most. Through the dedication of its pharmacy teams and store employees, Discount Drug Mart led the state in vaccines administered per capita while continuing to provide trusted care and everyday convenience for customers.
Today:
The Tradition Continues
Discount Drug Mart now operates 79 stores across more than 20 Ohio counties, supported by a modern distribution center in Medina and thousands of dedicated employees. The distribution center has more than doubled in size over the past 20 years, with continuously updated equipment and technology.
As the company has grown, so has its commitment to convenience. Discount Drug Mart has introduced deli departments, an uncommon offering for a drug store, and continues to expand its grocery selection to better meet the everyday needs of Ohio families.
That same spirit of innovation has also shaped programs like Pro Points®, which was developed using in-house talent and reflects the company’s practical, customer-first approach to building solutions that work for its shoppers.
To better reflect the services provided and increase awareness among patients and referral partners, Professional Medical Equipment & Services (PMES) was rebranded as Discount Drug Mart Home Medical Equipment (HME). The new name reinforces the division’s commitment to delivering trusted, local home medical care throughout Northeast Ohio.
Beyond its stores, Discount Drug Mart has built a long history of supporting the communities it serves, including partnerships and relationships with Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus sports teams, as well as community traditions like the Cleveland National Air Show. These connections reflect the company’s deep Ohio roots and its ongoing commitment to showing up for the people, teams, and events that bring local communities together.
Despite its size, the company remains guided by the same values that started it all: friendly service, fair prices, and a genuine desire to make life easier for every Ohioan.