Baker City Pharmacy Eyes Mid-June Opening

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Baker City, Oregon will soon have a new pharmacy option as Bob Coulter, owner of Red Cross Drug Store in La Grande, plans to open the Baker City Pharmacy in the former Pioneer Bank building by mid-June. The opening was delayed from an initial target of mid-February due to the lengthy process of securing a required federal license from the DEA.

Why it matters

Baker City has been without a second pharmacy option since the Safeway and Rite Aid stores closed in 2025, leaving the community with just one pharmacy inside the local Albertsons grocery store. Coulter's new independent pharmacy aims to provide residents more choice and access to prescription services.

The details

Coulter, a pharmacist with 42 years of experience, said he initially hoped to open the new Baker City Pharmacy by mid-February but the federal licensing process through the DEA's regional office in Seattle took much longer than expected. He received the required DEA license just last week, allowing him to then negotiate contracts with pharmacy benefit managers that represent insurance companies. Renovation work on the former bank building is ongoing, and Coulter is currently interviewing prospective pharmacy technicians and clerks.

• Coulter applied for the required federal DEA license on January 29.
• Coulter received the DEA license last week, weeks later than expected.
• Coulter initially hoped to open the pharmacy by mid-February.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Coulter will continue the renovation work on the former bank building and finalize contracts with insurance providers before the pharmacy's targeted mid-June opening.