Palms Pharmacy — The Independent Neighborhood Pharmacy That’s Here To Stay

Doctor of Pharmacy Shahida Choudhry (left) and Angie Pares, Palms Pharmacy’s director of operations, celebrated the local independent pharmacy’s ninth anniversary in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms on Apr. 11. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

On a recent Friday evening, Shahida Choudhry, Pharm.D., threw a party, complete with goodie bags and free ice cream (provided by the Ice Dreammm Shop in Wesley Chapel), to celebrate the nine years since she first opened (in 2016) Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms. 

The annual event is a way for Dr. Choudhry and her staff to mark the impact they have on Tampa Palms, New Tampa and the surrounding areas (including Wesley Chapel) by offering an alternative to big box stores and corporate chains. 

“When you walk through the door, we greet you,” Dr. Choudhry says. “When you call the pharmacy, someone picks up the phone.” 

Grace Dimalanta followed her to Palms Pharmacy from a local Publix, where Dr. Choudhry had previously served as the pharmacist for ten years. 

“Everyone is so personable and friendly at Palms Pharmacy,” Grace says. “It’s a different feel than anywhere else. They’re like family. When I leave, they’re calling out, ‘Bye, Grace, see you later! Have a good day!’” 

From its much more humble beginnings, the staff — and the amount of space it occupies in the plaza — has grown to a total of 16 people, including four pharmacists, three interns, plus six others who work in roles such as pharmacy technicians and support staff. They are all committed to providing a personal experience and truly care about their patients, with that bar being set high by Dr. Choudhry herself. 

In addition to top-quality Korean skin care products at outstanding prices (below), Palms Pharmacy also specializes in vitamins and supplements (above).

“I’ve been her customer for a long time,” Grace says. “She knows me so well. She’s even called my doctor to say a medicine that I was prescribed wasn’t good for me.” 

The large staff stays busy shipping orders throughout the whole state of Florida, offering next day delivery on prescriptions, compounded medications, specialty products and supplements. 

The pharmacy’s shelves are stocked with over-the-counter medications and high-quality supplements, including private label supplements made specifically for Palms Pharmacy. 

Dr. Choudhry says that a popular supplement, especially among those with ADHD, is a magnesium blend called Palms NeuroFocus. Other Palms Pharmacy supplements include a daily multi-vitamin and iron. 

And, she says, a new private label is coming soon, called Thrive Plus by Palms Pharmacy. 

“I’ve converted many of my favorite supplements to gummies,” Dr. Choudhry says. “We want to provide top-quality products to be cost effective so people can afford them.” 

She adds that she has found that she can produce some supplements locally to reduce the cost for her customers. 

This includes magnesium glycinate to help with sleep and nighttime carb cravings, a probiotic gummy, a creatine gummy, a greens gummy and NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) capsules, which are known as the “fountain of youth” and help with energy and visible signs of aging. 

“These [Thrive Plus] supplements had to go through FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) clearance and are being produced in a facility in Tampa,” Dr. Choudhry explains. “They will be on our shelves by the end of June.” 

The best part about purchasing supplements from Palms Pharmacy is having access to experts who can explain them and help you get the best products for you. Whether you come in the store and talk with the pharmacist, or call and speak with someone on the phone, they are always happy to answer all of your questions. 

Supplements also can be purchased online at Shop.ThePalmsPharmacy.com

In addition to vitamins and supplements, Palms Pharmacy carries a variety of unique gift items, skin care products, and sweets and snacks. 

“Korean skin care currently is our biggest thing,” Dr. Choudhry says, adding that, unlike some other stores, “Everything we have is under $15, including rice oil, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D and retinoids.” 

Regular customers like Grace always enjoy coming into the store to see what’s new. 

“There’s so much unique stuff,” Grace says, “like little soaps. I also buy supplements like vitamin D and calcium pills.” 

Grace says she doesn’t know anything about the quality of supplements, but her daughter-in-law, who does, pointed out that the brand she bought from Palms Pharmacy is a good one that doesn’t use fillers like a lot of companies do. 

“That makes me feel great because I know the store is stocked with stuff that’s good for you,” Grace says. 

She also appreciates that she can get vaccines at Palms Pharmacy, such as the flu shot. 

“I just make an appointment and it’s a nice experience,” Grace says. “I’m always happy to go there.” 

And, Dr. Choudhry says, when you shop at Palms Pharmacy, you’re supporting a small business where the money you spend actually stays in the local community. “We appreciate it when you support your local people and your money goes into the local economy,” Dr. Choudhry says. “While other pharmacies are sold to private equity firms or are closing locations, we’re here to help and give back.” 

In addition to caring for the store’s customers, the staff schedules team-building events every quarter, and often pair their days together with opportunities to serve the community, such as a recent beach cleanup. 

Dr. Choudhry, who earned both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY, was recently named the 2024 Independent Pharmacist of the Year by Pharmacist Moms, a national professional organization of more than 35,000 women pharmacists. 

Palms Pharmacy also has been nominated for the 2025 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year. There are more than 5,000 independent and locally owned neighborhood pharmacies allied together under the Health Mart banner. To win the award, which will be announced in June, the pharmacy has to have best-in-class clinical practices, be a community leader and exhibit excellent financial performance. 

“We enjoy what we do and really appreciate our customers,” Dr. Choudhry says. “We know you can go anywhere, so if you’re willing to park your car and come through our doors, we’re going to try to do a little bit extra to make you feel welcome.” 

Palms Pharmacy is located at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr. and is open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. You can call the store at (813) 252-9063 or text the secure text-only line at (727) 513-3210. For more info, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com

Smallcakes in New Tampa is Closed!

We told you in our last issue that Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery (in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms) was getting ready to close, but until a week or so before our press time, the cupcake chain’s local link was still open, with no formal announcement from owners Marissa and Justin Dewdney as to when it would close. 

Well, that fateful day (for those of us who loved those moist cupcakes and unmatched icing) did finally come and we already know that the Palms Pharmacy, located next to Smallcakes at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr., was planning to take over the bakery’s space. 

“It’s going to take a while,” Palms Pharmacy owner and Doctor of Pharmacy Shahida Choudhry told the Neighborhood News. “We’re looking at several months to build the space out and get it stocked.” Of course, the independent Palms Pharmacy is still open next door during the build-out, with its chain-matching (or beating) prices and unmatched customer service. 

Shahida, never one to take it easy, also recently opened The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel — with an outstanding team of three nurse practitioners, led by Scarlette Owens, APRN, FNP-C (formerly of Florida Medical Clinic in Tampa Palms) — at 2935 Pearson James Pl. (off Wesley Chapel Blvd. in the new Cypress Bend Professional Park in Lutz (photo), next to Wesley Chapel Harley Davidson). 

For more information about Palms Pharmacy, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com or call (813) 252-9063. For The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel, visit PrimaryCareWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 991-4243.

Award-Winning Palms Pharmacy Adds Wellness Now! Telehealth & More 

Dr. Shahida Choudhry (front & center) and her knowledgeable, friendly, professional staff at Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe in Tampa Palms invite you to experience the difference between a true neighorhood pharmacy and the big chain stores. (Photo by Charmaine George) 

When Shahida Choudhry, Pharm.D., founded her Palms Pharmacy in 2016 in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, she already had a decade of Publix pharmacy experience under her belt and knew exactly what she did and didn’t want her independent pharmacy to be. 

What Dr. Choudhry didn’t want was to just fill prescriptions; her goal was to bring back the welcoming vibe of the old-school neighborhood pharmacy. At Palms Pharmacy, it’s not just about getting your meds — it’s about being part of a community where the employees know your name and the prescriptions you need because you’re a familiar face, not just another line item. Since Palms Pharmacy first opened eight years ago, Dr. Choudhry’s team has grown to a total of 16 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. 

“My vision was to give back to the community and help our patients,” Dr. Choudhry explains. “We’re focused on your overall wellness and helping you get off medications that you might be able to replace with natural supplements.” 

She adds, however, that she will never tell you to stop taking a medication your doctor has prescribed for you. Instead, she will make suggestions to bring back to your doctor if she thinks that there is a better way to achieve the same goal. “This is a passion project of mine that’s evolved over the years,” she says. 

A proud alumnus of Long Island University (LIU) in Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Choudhry earned both her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degrees from LIU. 

Her Palms Pharmacy offers personalized, on-site compounding services, creating primary care provider-prescribed creams, topicals, mouthwashes, etc., while outsourcing items like semaglutide for weight loss to trusted, high-quality sterile pharmacies. 

“We make sure that your compounded medications are affordable,” she says. “Compounding is important, and we want to ensure that you have access to the meds you need.” 

In addition to those meds are Palms Pharmacy’s private-label supplements (photo on next page), available both in-store and online at Shop.ThePalmsPharmacy.com. Among the many supplements are a variety created to help kids with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). 

“We have a lot of parents who have told us the ADHD supplements have really helped their children,” Dr. Choudhry says. “It’s important to know that helpful supplements like these are available.” 

Independent, But Not Alone 

Dr. Choudhry is proud of her relationships with other independent pharmacy owners, not just here in the Tampa Bay area, but across the country, as a brand ambassador for independent Health Mart pharmacies. 

Speaking of independent pharmacies, Palms Pharmacy has been nominated for the 2024 Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year. There are more than 5,000 independent and locally owned neighborhood pharmacies allied together under the Health Mart banner. In order to win the award — which will be announced at the McKesson ideaShare convention in New Orleans, LA, in June, a Health Mart pharmacy has to be judged to have best-in-class clinical practices, be an outstanding Health Mart brand ambassador, be a community leader and independent pharmacy advocate and exhibit excellent financial performance. 

The Health Mart franchise is owned by Health Mart Systems, Inc., which is part of McKesson Corporation. 

Additionally, Dr. Choudhry was named number six among the 50 Most Influential Leaders in Pharmacy by the Pharmacy Podcast Network, as voted on by her peers. 

“It’s a North American recognition,” she says. “It’s my third year in a row of being in the top 10. It’s an honor, and I think it’s pretty crazy that my peers have voted for me.” 

Dr. Choudhry, who also is often a presenter or featured speaker at many pharmacy conventions, was recently in Washington, D.C., fighting for pharmacy benefit reform, to help pharmacists become recognized as health care providers and help get new Medicare reform laws passed. 

“We’re just trying to make some kind of positive changes,” she says. 

Wellness Now! Telehealth Care 

In an expansion of her commitment to her patients, Palms Pharmacy is now partnering with Wellness Now! to provide telehealth care appointments to help patients with a variety of needs. However, Dr. Choudhry says Wellness Now! is starting by offering patients interested in weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide) or Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide) that their primary care physicians won’t prescribe (usually due to insurance restrictions), to be able to have telehealth appointments with licensed nurse practitioners who are able to prescribe these medications. Then, Palms Pharmacy is happy to fill those prescriptions for you. 

Dr. Choudhry says that when the coupons for affordable Wegovy and Mounjaro were pulled two years ago, many patients were left unable to afford their prescriptions. She decided to find other ways to get these meds. 

“We’re giving patients another option and it’s very important that the prescriptions are affordable,” she says. “We found options for them starting at $100 per month. Wellness Now! is a great option for patients.” 

The licensed nurse practitioners evaluate each patient’s medical history and future goals to determine the best course of treatment for their personalized health care plans. If deemed appropriate, patients will receive a prescription to help facilitate weight loss — compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide options. 

Also coming soon to Wellness Now! are Men’s Health appointments, with the intention of increasing testosterone naturally. “This is a different approach than just throwing testosterone at patients,” she says. “We have to find the root cause of why the testosterone is dropping. We’re also going to offer erectile dysfunction (ED) compounded medications that are more natural, not just the blue pill.” 

In addition, Wellness Now! also will offer dermatological telehealth appointments and Dr. Choudhry says she will soon be making an exciting announcement about them. 

Locally-Sourced Retail & Outstanding Reviews 

In addition to over-the-counter medications and a huge selection of natural supplements that she is happy to describe for Palms Pharmacy customers, Dr. Choudhry also hand-curates a selection of unique gift items. These include whimsical cotton candy and marshmallow candies and other sweets and snacks, as well as locally-made soaps, candles and natural local honey. She regularly attends natural product expos to source new products and collaborates with local independent creators. And, her prices are always competitive with, if not less expensive than, what you’ll find in a large chain store. 

“People think a small, independent pharmacy is more expensive, but it’s really not,” she says. “We really want to be competitive. We’re like a hidden gem.” 

Her customers and patients agree. In one of more than 400 5-star Google reviews, customer Kimber B. highlights some unique findings in her Google review: 

“Excellent service. The pharmacist is very knowledgeable and helpful. The staff is polite and attentive. The retail items are great quality and yes, I’m a sucker for the cotton candy.” 

Another customer, Deborah B., expresses her appreciation for the exceptional service she has received in her 5-star review: “They are efficient, friendly, and so helpful. Our pediatrician recommended them to us, and we drive across town because of the quality customer service and efficiency of this pharmacy.” 

Anniversary Celebration April 19 

On Friday, April 19, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Palms Pharmacy is throwing an 8th anniversary bash with a food truck providing free food. Attendees can snag tons of freebies and great giveaways. “I just love what I do,” gushes Dr. Choudhry. “Do you have days when you don’t want to go to work? That’s not me. I absolutely love my job!” 

When not at the pharmacy, this dynamic Wesley Chapel resident, her husband Irfan, her son Eisa and her daughter Sarina love to travel. 

Palms Pharmacy (17008 Palm Pointe Dr.) is open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Call (813) 252-9063 or text the secure text-only line: (727) 513-3210. For more information, see the Wellness Now! or visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com