I had the pleasure of working in a pharmacy with a soda fountain during my high school and college years; however, it was never one that served hot food and sandwiches. As I recall back into the 1960s, there were a couple of luncheonette counters, including Liggett Drug Company, and the subject of today's story, the Main Pharmacy.
The Main Pharmacy celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, November 29, 1952, under the ownership of registered pharmacist Angelo Parlengas. The store's original location was 203 Main Street, adjacent to the Majestic Theater. Early ads showed that in addition to prescriptions, the pharmacy sold diabetic supplies, vitamins, cosmetics, candy, and homemade ice cream.
After a fire destroyed the Majestic Theater in 1960, Mr. Parlengas moved to 443 High Street at the corner of Essex. Within a year, a significant building fire occurred four doors away; however, the pharmacy was minimally impacted.
Pharmacies were changing with the times. In 1961, the pharmacy installed self-service supermarket-style display shelves for many everyday items. Customers would no longer have to ask a clerk to retrieve many over-the-counter items. The newspaper ads were a collaboration with manufacturers or suppliers of remedies. This was a way to promote additional foot traffic to the pharmacy.
Another draw for this pharmacy was the availability of a soda fountain and luncheonette service.
On June 21, 1977, a fire at 439 High Street destroyed businesses, including Furniture Gallery and Main Pharmacy. There were three fatalities in the upstairs apartments. The buildings at 439-441 High Street and 61-63 Essex were unsalvageable and were demolished.
For a time, Main Pharmacy's refills and new prescriptions were serviced at Chester's Drug Store.
Main Pharmacy reopened at 558 High Street at the northeast corner of Hampshire, and held a grand reopening on October 27 through 29, 1977. The store site was the former location of Philip Fitzsimmons' grocery store, a story for another day.
Moving forward, the pharmacy actively promoted a variety of luncheon specials through newspaper ads, ranging from meatloaf to golumbkis. Services were offered, including notary, knife sharpening, prescription delivery, and money orders. Discounts were afforded to the elderly as well as those with challenges.
The landscape of health insurance was undergoing significant changes. In the late 1980s, certain insurance companies would only offer prescription discounts to their subscribers when shopping at select national chain pharmacies. The independents were at a disadvantage and losing business.
In August 1989, Main Pharmacy was liquidating its over-the-counter stock by offering discounts of 50% and 60%. The ads stopped running in November 1989, and the business closed in December of that year.
Angelo Parlengas went on to work at various local pharmacies. He later became a pharmacist at the Hampden County House of Corrections, retiring in 1995 at age 70 after 43 years as a registered pharmacist.
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