TAMPA, Fla. — Benzer Pharmacy has set foot on the West Coast with its first store in California.

The independent regional pharmacy chain opened its latest location in Long Beach, Calif., with the acquisition of Care Rite Pharmacy at at 3500 East Broadway.

Benzer Pharmacy now has a presence in 14 states.

“We are looking at how we can provide better clinical care by providing personalized medical advice and cost-effective treatment methods,” Benzer Pharmacy president Alpesh Patel said of the newly rebranded pharmacy. “Benzer Pharmacy will keep the same community spirit and preserve the legacy of the previous owner,” he added.

Along with full retail pharmacy services — including such offerings as free home delivery, free med-pack preparations and refill reminders — Benzer pharmacies focus on specialty drugs and medication management. That includes support for people with complex chronic diseases such as hepatitis, HIV, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatological conditions and gastrointestinal disorders.

The new California store brings Benzer Pharmacy into its 14th state. Last fall, the drug chain had entered two other states with its first locations in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Since the opening of the first Benzer Pharmacy in 2009, the chain has grown to more than 65 pharmacies in Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Oklahoma, Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana and California.

Helping to drive Benzer’s rapid growth was the introduction of a franchise model early last year. According to Patel, the model enables independent pharmacies to leverage the reach and scale of a single regional brand, in turn lowering their financial investment and boosting their returns.

“There are two different models that the Benzer franchise is offering to prospective business owners, pharmacists and independent pharmacy owners. The Benzer franchise model offers pharmacists and independent pharmacies an opportunity to own their own store. Benzer Pharmacy supports and guides the franchisees in all business aspects, from successfully opening to operating an independent pharmacy. Here the franchisee has 100% ownership and management of the business,” Patel recently told Chain Drug Review.

“The Benzer group purchasing power model is for current independent pharmacy owners looking to lower their cost of goods,” he explained. “By joining Benzer’s buying group and leveraging their purchasing power, pharmacy owners will benefit from greater discounts.”