Step inside the North end Rite Aid, and you will see that it has been transformed with a complete makeover. A grand opening celebration will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17, with free health screenings.

“This open house is a great time to check out Rite Aid’s new Wellness Store layout, which will benefit area residents long after this grand re-opening has come and gone,” said Eric Harkreader, Rite Aid public relations specialist. “In the future, your community can look forward to not only periodic community health events like this but also the store’s everyday expanded wellness products and services.”

The grand opening event will take place from 12 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17. The store has added staffing for customer service, an enhanced selection of wellness products and resources, and advanced clinical services including a private pharmacist consultation room at most locations. Wellness Stores are Rite Aid’s latest store design format and are part of the drugstore chain’s continued commitment to providing services, products, and resources to help customers and their families lead healthier lives.

Free product samples will be offered along with the health screenings. Nurses and licensed pharmacists will be present to provide free health services including: total cholesterol testing, blood pressure readings, memory impairment screenings, COPD screenings and blood glucose testing.

Rite Aid Wellness Ambassadors will also provide interactive demos on customized iPads at the event, and will regularly help customers access quality information and facilitate access to the clinical advice and services of the pharmacists. Wellness Ambassadors can also help customers with electronically enrolling in wellness+, Rite Aid’s free customer loyalty program that offers health and wellness benefits and immediate shopping discounts. Visitors can also sample organic, gluten-free or natural food products and pick up other product samples and coupons.

Rite Aid is located in the Mercer Island Shopping Center at 3023 78th Ave. S.E. and can be reached at (206) 236-0776.