Holyoke had 28 independent pharmacies operating at the beginning of 1956. This is the story of the city’s 29th, the Medic Pharmacy operated by Francis (Frank) & Joan Marulli.
Frank Marulli was born in Holyoke in 1925 and was a 1942 graduate of Holyoke High School. He worked for a period at Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation. He had an avid interest in becoming a physician, but family finances prevented him from doing so. Instead, he went on to Hampden College of Pharmacy and, in 1946, became the youngest pharmacist at age 21. He worked for Curley Brothers Pharmacy for several years.
Medic Pharmacy announced its opening at 90 Suffolk Street in April 1956. The storefront at the corner of Suffolk and Chestnut in the Knights of Columbus building had been vacant for about a year. The prior occupant was Curley Brothers Pharmacy, which had been in business there since 1915, when the space first became available in the new building.
Pharmacies were adapting to the times to compete. Medic Pharmacy carried cosmetics, fragrances, boxed candy, and camera film in addition to health remedies and vitamins. Other services included pickup and delivery of prescriptions. The store was equipped with a seven-stool soda fountain where sandwiches and ice cream were served. Joan Marulli and, later, their 3 children would work at the soda fountain.
The store was open for nearly 15 hours daily, including Sunday mornings and evenings. It was a rigorous schedule, as many pharmacies operated with the pharmacist-owner and, at times, a second pharmacist to split the operating hours.
Many of the ads in the Holyoke Transcript featured a baby or toddler, a hallmark throughout the pharmacy’s history.
In 1966, the store underwent a renovation to optimize the space to create an efficient flow. The pharmacy area was expanded from 6 to 20 feet and elevated 1 foot above the store’s floor level. Customers’ records were now kept close at hand. London Store Fixtures of Worcester was responsible for revamping the store.
The pharmacy also served as a ticketing site for local fundraising events. The Marullis were active in the Italian Progressive Society, and several functions were noted for charitable purposes.
Medic Pharmacy continued in operation until December 22, 1986, when Frank Marulli announced his retirement after almost 31 years in business. Except for a one-year vacancy in 1955, a pharmacy operated continuously at 90 Suffolk Street for 71 years.
Times were rapidly changing in the opharmacy industry. In 1956, 2,400 pharmacies were operating in Massachusetts, 29 in Holyoke. In 1986, the numbers were 1,275 statewide and 17 in Holyoke, of which 13 were independent. Regional and national chains were highly competitive, and independent pharmacies were offered substantial incentives to sell to them. Pharmacists were also offered greater wages to work for the chains. The alternative often meant the independent store failing due to a loss of business.
J & D Variety Store and Snack Bar, operated by Joan & Dennis Cote, was the successor business at this location in 1987. A devastating fire destroyed the Knights of Columbus building on May 24, 1990. The building was subsequently razed.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; publication dates and pages are shown.
Ancestry.com (paid subscription): Price & Lee Holyoke, Massachusetts, City Directories
