The other day I was coming down Lincoln Avenue in Bellevue and was surprised to see this storefront sign, hidden since the 1960s. Construction crews were tearing down the front of Rite-Aid Pharmacy, which declared bankruptcy and shut their doors in my neighborhood in December 2023.
(For the record, I sort of blame them for my long covid; I stopped there to pick up my blood pressure meds after Thanksgiving in Nov 2023. They asked me to come back on Monday. When I said “Will you guys still be around?” they assured me they would.
When I returned, they were closed and had sent my prescription to Giant Eagle. My friend Susie gave me a ride to Giant Eagle; she had covid but didn’t know it, voila.)
But before it was Eckerd Drugs… it was THRIFT DRUGS. A Pittsburgh company, they opened in 1935. And that’s what this was until 1968 when it was bought by JCPenney, who sold it to Eckerd.
Anyway, the construction crew had halted their work on the storefront (which is being converted into office space) but no one seemed to know why. I thought I’d get a couple pics before they tore it down further.
I don’t know why I find this so curious, I can’t help but wonder—how long has it been since anyone last saw this vintage sign? A lady on the street said “I haven’t shopped at Thrift since I don’t know when! But it wasn’t Thrift Drugs, it was Thrift Drug!”
My dear woman, that sign is evidence to the contrary. Anyway, I’d love to go back in time and take a gander at the items for sale inside. Remember Breck Shampoo? Prell in a tube? Dippity-Do? Hi-Karate Men’s Aftershave? I wonder if it had a soda fountain?
Well, the good news is my bus drove past a couple days ago and they still haven’t torn it down. It sure would be fun to see Thrift Drugs make a comeback!
I have lived in the same town since I was about one year old. I still refer to businesses and landmarks by the original name. It drives my adult children crazy and I never plan to stop. I love the woman insisting that it was Drug not Drugs while staring at the sign. That is a good commentary on America right now.
ReplyDeleteHaha thank you Miss Merry. ☺️
ReplyDeleteDug, I can see how you would hold them responsible for your long covid... not really, but emotionally. As for Thrift Drugs... never heard of them. But I do remember all of those shampoo - mama used Halo (and it did smell wonderful). Dad used Old Spice and English Leather (although I believe these were after-shaves, not shampoo). Old Spice has made a comeback... as I see it in the stores now. Some meds I remember growing up were Resinol, Merthiolate, and Mercurochrome?? (may not be spelling these correctly).
ReplyDeleteI loved this, thanks Rian. I am feeling my age, the moment I read Halo shampoo I heard that song in my head immediately. Hello everybody Halo.. anyway, my dad used English leather too! I remember the top of the bottle was a giant wooden knob! And as a matter of fact, my grandpap used Old spice and so did I and I still have a bottle in my medicine cabinet. As for thrift drug, I'm pretty sure it was a Pittsburgh only chain but was very very popular.
DeleteSo many drug stores (actually, we call them pharmacies or chemist shops – usually, just the chemist).
ReplyDeleteThere are five of them in a single block in my local shopping centre. I go to two of them, and occasionally the cut price one if they have something I wanted that’s on special.
Thanks for sharing Peter. I know you guys call them chemists, I think that's so cool. Sadly they seem to be going bankrupt here in the US. Not just my local chain, but the other ones too. When I was a kid, we had one back home, Sun Drug run by Peg and Mabel who also read tarot cards. Gosh I just loved them!
DeleteSo many names from the past--and I remember those products! I regularly went to Pay N Pak and my late husband spent a lot of time at Ernst Hardware, both long gone. The latest to disappear around here is Bartell Drugs. They were a local company that just couldn't compete with the big chains.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret and damn the big chains--damn them! 🤬
DeleteHi Doug. I LOVE this post! This sort of local “history” is always interesting to me. I did a quick search and the woman is actually correct—it was officially the Thrift Drug Company. And most people verbally referred to them as Thrift Drug stores. So I can see how she would remember them that way. Here’s a brief quote from Wikipedia: “ In 1935, pharmacists Philip Hoffman and Reuben Helfant came together to form the Thrift Drug Company. Their first stores opened in the Pittsburgh suburb of Sewickley in May, followed by Bellevue two weeks later.”
ReplyDeleteDon--wow! Thanks so much, I guess I should've done some more research! Much appreciated my friend. 🙂
DeleteIt's always interesting to see what is under the facade of old buildings. I've no memory of most of the products you mentioned, though vaguely recall Dippity-do. I'm not certain if it was available in Canada or if I simply saw an advertisement.
ReplyDeleteThank you Maebeme, I've always had a fascination with older buildings and such, so seeing that sign from the 1960s, hidden all these years, it just really tickled me. As for Dippity do, I only remember it because it and Clearasil were American Bandstands sponsors in the late '60s early 70s! 😄
DeleteI love this!! Anything vintage from the 60’s - mid 80’s really catches my eye, It’s so great that you captured this photo an posted on your blog! I remember Breck Shampoo! I know you’re a fellow VO5 fan, but did you know that Prell is still made? I use it a few times a week when not using the VO5. The Prell is still that crazy nuclear green and has the same scent, from I can tell! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks Jase! Well, well well... so cool about Prell! I will definitely be looking for that the next time I'm at the store, I need all the body I can get :^) Hope you're doing well Jase, thanks again!
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