Mercury Drug

Anyone who grew up in Project 8, Quezon City in the 1970s probably knows the corner of Road 20 and Short Horn Road. That area used to be all-residential, but in the last decade commercial developments happened there. Just look at the Mercury Drug outlet that opened there a few years ago. It's directly opposite the 7-Eleven store and just across McDonald's from where I took this picture.

This Mercury Drug branch also offers a grocery store where you can buy some of your grocery needs plus beverages, ice cream, pastries, bread, and beauty accessories.

The portion of Road 20 that extends past Mercury Drug goes straight to Quirino Highway in Baesa, while the opposite direction goes straight to Mindanao Avenue. I and my friends and contemporaries have lots of memories about this corner [Road 20 and Short Horn Road] one of which was when our mini school bus driven by Mang Pedring always passed by this area in the morning on its way to Congressional Avenue.

Today, the area is growing fast to become a full-swing commercialized area with lots of shops, office buildings, and eateries popping up like mushrooms. Its commercial potential was enhanced by the presence of Mercury Drug, McDonald's, and 7-Eleven, although business pioneers like Aberdeen Grocery, Ancel's Store (right across Mercury Drug), and Giron Air Rifle Shop were among the first to venture in the area. Only Ancel's Store remains.

So far, the Mercury Drug sales staff are a bit friendly and ready to help customers with their medicine purchases. The only frustrating thing about it is that sometimes customers accumulate at the counter because of slow service. The sales staff probably just want to make sure that they give out the right medicines and change to their customers.

The only potential competition of Mercury Drug is the small Generics drugstore right across the street, but it still has a long way to go.