Elephant Pharmacy history

He signed on as a marketing manager at a new health foods grocer in Brookline, Massachusetts, called Bread & Circus, in 1977.

Skorman left Bread & Circus in 1985 and launched two successive ventures in the burgeoning video market.

The 6-year-old Berkeley company, founded in late 2001, has had some bumpy times over the years, including delayed openings at several locations, and plans for a Pasadena outlet that were put on hold while it focuses on perfecting its approach in the Bay Area.

In June 2002 Skorman and Harnett hired Lisa Clausen away from Nike to run Elephant's daily operations.

Elephant began publishing a monthly newsletter in 2003 as well, carrying product pricing information, specials, listing classes and author visits, and any information relevant to the particular monthly period covered.

Skorman had originally wanted to have 200 stores within about five years, but by 2004 these ambitions proved improbable with a struggling economy and ramped up competition from other pharmacy chains.

"Our business is rocking and rolling," said CEO Kathi Lentzsch, who joined Elephant in May 2005, replacing founder Stuart Skorman, who is no longer associated with the company.

The second Elephant Pharmacy, located near San Francisco, in San Rafael, had its grand opening in January 2006.