Longs Drug Stores has bought a small neighborhood pharmacy in Kalihi, expanding the chain in Hawai'i to 32 stores.

The acquisition, an unusual one for Longs in Hawai'i, involved Longs buying Gulick Pharmacy at 2070 N. King St. and turning an empty building next to the business into a new Longs pharmacy.

The old Gulick Pharmacy occupied 400 square feet in a strip mall. The new Longs pharmacy is 1,500 square feet and will carry a small selection of over-the-counter health and beauty products in addition to filling prescriptions.

Typical Longs stores in Hawai'i have pharmacies but devote most of their space to a wide variety of merchandise in stores that average 16,000 square feet.

The move marks the first time since 1999 that Longs has opened a new store in Hawai'i. The expansion comes as national drugstore chain Walgreens is pushing ahead with plans to enter the Hawai'i market with two stores on O'ahu. Officials from Longs' corporate headquarters in Walnut Creek, Calif., could not be reached for comment.

While the operation is a first for Longs in Hawai'i, Longs operates small pharmacies on the Mainland. Longs in June bought a company with 21 retail pharmacies averaging 1,100 square feet primarily in or near medical facilities around Los Angeles.

Gulick Pharmacy was started in 1991 by relatives of Larry Tong, the store's pharmacist. Tong said the owners wanted to retire and found a buyer in Longs.

Tong will continue to serve customers as pharmacy manager under Longs. The store employs seven people.

The new Longs pharmacy in Kalihi will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.