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NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) — A Naperville pharmacy is celebrating being open for 150 years.
It’s one of the longest-standing family-owned pharmacies in the country.
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In the late 1920s, Oswald’s pharmacy had a soda fountain. Now, in celebration of 150 years, they’re reinventing the classic soda. It’s a prime example of how they’ve been able to pivot and change, which has made them quite successful.
“These are all documents from my ancestors,” current owner Alex Anderson said.
Right on display are the checks, licenses, puzzles and leases passed down through generations.
“Started with my great, great, great grandfather, Rickel, whose daughter married Oswald. His daughter married Kester, whose daughter married an Anderson. And then it’s been two more generations of Anderson since,” Anderson said.
Oswald’s Pharmacy on Gartner Road in Naperville is where history meets community. The pharmacy has been open since 1875.
The family says it’s the oldest continual family-owned pharmacy in the Midwest. At one point, the pharmacy was open 365 days a year.
“We were open 22,000 and change days straight. We never closed,” former owner Bill Anderson said.
That was until the 80s, when Bill Anderson’s dad decided to give his staff Christmas off. Their hard work through two pandemics, a world war and the depression is what’s kept the memories alive for thousands of customers.
“Oswald’s has gone through Prohibition. It’s gone through the 60s. It’s gone through the Beatles,” said state Sen. Laura Ellman, who represents the 21st District.
“My mom did our Christmas shopping, or my Christmas shopping, at Oswald’s Pharmacy in downtown,” Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli said.
From Christmas shopping to medicine, it’s the pharmacy where you can have a little bit of everything.
“The lottery is what draws me in, and then the post office. And then I see a tremendous display of antiques,” customer Joe Casaburi said.
But for customers like Bradley Brehm, who have been coming for 50 years, it’s just the place that feels like home.
“It’s hard to compete against the larger stores, and it takes a lot of commitment from family like the Andersons to keep this, keep this store going,” Brehm said. “Keep going for another 150 years.”
The classic fountain soda will be available through the end of the year.
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