The smaller format retail pharmacy at Eleele Shopping Center on Kaua'i's south shore complements two full-size Longs stores in Lihu'e and Kapa'a on the island's east side.

"This store is going to be helpful to our pharmacy customers on the south side of the Island," said Longs spokeswoman Phyllis Proffer.

The new 'Ele'ele store is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. except from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Longs has 37 stores in Hawai'i, including six smaller pharmacy stores that the company began adding last year as part of a corporate expansion strategy.

Proffer said California-based Longs, which has about 500 stores in several states, expects its number of stores to grow 7 percent annually, with a mix of small pharmacy stores and full-size traditional stores featuring general merchandise and pharmacy operations.