Pharmacy continues downtown restoration trend by Sunny Meriwether - posted Thursday, September 20th, 2012 @ 12:00 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  It's been several years since downtown Monroe had a full-service pharmacy. That changes Friday when Vantage Health Plan and its subsidiary, Affinity Health Group, cut the ribbon on the Saint John Pharmacy and Coffee Shop. It's located in the former Ouachita National Bank on St. John Street. Vantage owns the building now. Michael Echols, director of business and development for Vantage and Affinity, said the companies recognized the need, because the last drug store downtown closed about six years ago. "More and more, as we talked with patients from Ouachita Grand Plaza, from Francis Towers, others in downtown Monroe, it was a convenience that was missing," Echols said. "The need for a pharmacy and this space being available, it just made a lot of sense." ..... For the full story, subscribe to the The Ouachita Citizen's NEW E-Edition!