Drugstores were mainstays of American culture in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Small-town drugstores were almost like the lifeblood of the town. It seemed as if each person in the town would drop by at least once during the day, whether to make a regular purchase or to simply buy a drink. They would proceed to gather the daily report on the town and share their own news.
Small-town drugstores gave way to large, mega-chain stores when people started moving to suburbs and looked more for convenience. Thankfully, though, drugstores have been making a comeback recently, and some have been making updated changes. People are beginning to appreciate the qualities of drugstores again as well as what they had been missing when they had foregone drugstores.
Nostalgia
One of the beloved qualities bringing the modern people of today through the doors of drugstores is a sense of nostalgia. They love the more intimate feel of a store in which the associates don’t mind a quick chat while they work, and everyone is ready with a smile when you walk through the doors.
It is refreshing to walk into drugstores and have your checker or your pharmacist ask about your child’s last soccer game or how your mother is feeling after surgery. We all love having other people who care about us, and returning to drugstores lets us know there are other people who care.
Combine Old and New
Drugstores today find a good balance. They combine this nostalgic, hometown feel with bigger stores and wider selections for customers on the go who are used to multi-purpose chain stores. This way, the customers get the best of both worlds.
Efficiency
A trip to the drugstore is extremely efficient. You can find almost anything you need at drugstores today, but with exceptional speed. Since the stores have larger selections than in years past, most have become one-stop shops for your needs. However, because drugstores are slightly smaller in size and have less traffic — both in and out of the store — than other places, you can spend less time on your errands and more time fulfilling other, more important responsibilities.
Prescriptions
Drugstores continue to fulfill one of their classic responsibilities: filling prescriptions. Most will have a full-service pharmacy on-site with an extensive selection. If you require a special prescription that they don’t have, many will be able to have the prescription for you by the next day. Drugstores can help you get in, out and on your way faster than other multi-purpose stores.
Everything Else
Herein lies the beauty of these one-stop havens. You can now head off to the drugstore and not only receive excellent service, a nostalgic feel and your daily prescriptions, but you can also get almost anything else you need, from cotton balls to milk to the latest Tom Clancy book.
Many drugstores not only have a pharmacy, but they also have an extended health and beauty section with over-the-counter medications, soap, makeup, tweezers, hair color and other items. Then you can head over to the food section and pick up a gallon of milk and a bag of chips. If you are in need of a new light bulb or even picture frames, go to the housewares section. Some drugstores carry clothing and jewelry, too. At other drugstores, you might be able to develop a roll of film or have an appointment with the in-house optometrist.
By D. Blair Thompson