May's gets ready for millennium.(May's Drug Stores)

TULSA. Olda.--Refusing to let expanding megachains monopolize the retail pharmacy business in Oklahoma and Missouri, May's Drug Stores, a fixture here for more than 60 years, is riding its own "Rocket to the New Millennium," which will carry it to 45 outlets by 2001. The program, which was introduced last year, also entails enlarging, updating and remodeling current stores, as well as entering two new states, Arkansas and Kansas.

President and chief executive officer Jerry Heller notes that the New Millennium program involves both the company's traditional drug stores, which operate under the May's banner, and its larger, deep-discount Drug Warehouse outlets.

The retailer plans to launch three stores this year and two remodels -- both Drug Warehouse outlets. No enlargements of May's units are planned, but the enlargements already completed have increased …