Stacey Manahan tests a customer’s eyesight at the Grand Marais Pharmacy’s motor vehicle registry. The pharmacy recently received permission to begin offering Cook County drivers a place to renew their licenses or to obtain a new driver’s license. The pharmacy is also the place to go to get your vehicle tabs.
When Buck’s (formerly Radio Shack) Electronics closed four months ago, Cook County residents were left without a place to obtain a Minnesota driver’s license in the county. The nearest location to pick one up or to renew one was in Two Harbors, 85 miles away.
That changed on Monday, October 17 when the Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles notified Grand Marais Pharmacy that the paperwork was completed and it could open for business.
It was a natural fit because Grand Marais Pharmacy is already the county’s Minnesota Vehicle Registry.
“We have been really busy so far,” said Stacey Manahan, who manages the DVM department. “We have done about 30 driver’s licenses in the first three days since we received permission from the state to begin this service.”
The Cook County Senior Center is where people go to take their driver’s test. Once the test is passed, they can bring the results to the pharmacy, take their eye exam, get their picture taken, and get a provisional license until their permanent one comes back in the mail.
Bob and Elaine Sample, owners of the Grand Marais Pharmacy, purchased the testing equipment (camera and eye scanner) months ago, but as Bob said, “We haven’t been able to provide this service to the public as quickly as we thought we could, but we’re open now.”
The driver’s license and DVM is located in the new addition on the main floor of the pharmacy. A separate entrance has been added to the new addition for the convenience of customers. Hours for the driver’s license service will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, said Bob Sample.
“We can also do driver’s license renewals and changes of address here,” said Stacey. “We can’t, however, do enhanced driver’s licenses. The kind you need to cross the border into Canada or for a DUI. Those will need to be picked up in Duluth.”
Tabs and plates can be picked up from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday. The hours are longer for tabs and plates because the state shuts down its computer system for driver’s licenses at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, said Manahan.
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