Sterling Main Street in Austin will soon be home to a new clinic, the second of its kind for Astrup Drug Inc.

A Smart Clinic will open Monday, June 15 in the store at 1305 First Ave. S.W.

“We have a clinic just like this in Fairmont (Minn.),” said Sam Ewing, director of operations for Astrup. The first Smart Clinic opened in April 2007.

“It’s different; it’s kind of a new concept,” Ewing said.

The idea may be unusual to some, but others who hail from smaller towns may see similarities between the Smart Clinic and their hometown doctor.

“It’s the personal touch, the convenience,” Dr. Chris Shaffer said. The pediatrician is partnering with Ewing to bring the walk-in clinic to Austin. Another long-time Austin Medical Center employee, physician assistant Linda Peter, will also be on staff.

“They are two local people who have worked in Austin,” Ewing said of Peter and Shaffer. “They are really familiar faces.”

Ewing said the Smart Clinic is not to be confused with an urgent care facility or others similar to CVS Pharmacy’s “MinuteClinics.”

“There’s a conception out there about clinics in business establishments,” Ewing said. “It’s more of a family practice than an urgent care.”

Services provided will include physicals, pediatric care, immunizations, pap smears, drug testing, diabetes and hypertension management and much more. The Smart Clinic is a contracted provider for many insurance plans.

“They are equipped to see patients effectively and quickly,” Ewing said.

Although walk-ins are welcome at the Smart Clinic, making appointments will ensure faster service. The clinic, located where the crafts department was at Sterling Main Street, will feature a waiting room, lab and four exam rooms. It is bigger than Astrup’s first clinic. Joseph Co. began construction of the clinic in March and completed it two weeks ago.

With the Fairmont location serving as the pilot site for the concept, the company believes they have more of an idea about what it takes to make the clinic a success. Dr. Tim Bachenberg, of the Fairmont clinic, has provided guidance for the launch of the second site. He said the name “Smart Clinic” stems from Astrup’s Smart Fill robotic pharmacy fill program, also located in Austin.

“To be consistent when we were doing the business plan, we used ‘Smart Clinic,’ ” Bachenberg said.

Ewing said bringing a Smart Clinic to Austin is particularly special: Astrup’s flagship store is the Austin location. The first Astrup Drug, called Sterling Drug No. 1, was opened by Leonard Astrup in Austin in 1952.

“It’s good to have it in our hometown in our flagship store,” Ewing said.

Smart Clinic will be 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Appointments can be made by calling 437-0036.