PayLess Plans to Open Drugstore Near Ojai

PayLess Drug Stores, a division of Thrifty PayLess Inc., plans to open a new store just outside Ojai, long a pastoral holdout against chain retailers.

The new unit, which PayLess says will be ready to open around early August, will be located on Ventura Avenue in Mira Monte, near Ojai’s southern city limits.

Ojai, which prides itself on favoring local retailers, has no chain drugstores and no major discount stores within its borders--though there’s a Vons market on Maricopa Highway inside the city limits.

James Toney, regional vice president of PayLess, whose headquarters is based in Wilsonville, Ore., said in a statement that the new drugstore will employ about 30 workers.

“We’re looking forward to getting more involved with the Ojai community,” he said. “Our employees live in the area, and we think it’s our responsibility to become a part of the community and work to make it better.”

PayLess operates more than 1,000 units in 10 Western states.