The Metropolitan Magazine - Pemberton Pharmacy

It’s fair to say that Pemberton Pharmacy & Gift is unlike any other pharmacy in the area. Oh sure, they’ve got the customer-service-oriented staff, the full complement of over-the-counter products and very competitive everyday prices on prescription medication. But it goes beyond that. Pemberton Pharmacy is essentially a “boutique” pharmacy, chock full of warmth, familiarity and secret goodies that’ll make you sorry that you hadn’t discovered this little retail treasure chest a lot earlier.
Craig Schury launched the business about three years ago, following the voluntary conclusion of a 20-year career with some of the industry’s giants. But to hear the Purdue University-educated pharmacist describe the experience, he ultimately couldn’t get away from the big boys fast enough.
“I spent about 20 years working for companies like Thrift Drug, Eckerd and Cardinal Health,” Schury said, “and by the end of it, I had to accept that I wasn’t doing anything near what I had intended when I first entered the field.
“Retail pharmacy chains have become all about volume and profit,” added the father of three and husband to Dana for 23 years, “which means that to survive, they must get a lot of people through their doors, holding lots of prescriptions, with minimal staff. In other words, very pro-profit and, by necessity, very anti-people. That’s the exact opposite of what made me want to go into pharmacy in the first place, and since I knew I could do it better than they did anyway, the time seemed right.”
Pemberton Pharmacy & Gift’s air of difference is palpable from the moment you enter the premises. To the right there are generous banks of all the requisite over-the-counters you could ask for, spaced by immaculate aisles that also lead to the main prescription counter, which is usually where you’ll find Craig. In his role as lead pharmacist, he may be whipping up some sort of doctor-sanctioned panacea to help whatever ails you — or perhaps he’s putting together a medicine-on-time package, a customized, predispensed series of pill cups expertly prepared to remove all margin of error from the patient. The program was instituted by Craig, at no additional cost to the customer, two and a half years ago, well before any other pharmacy in the area. That’s just part of what Pemberton Pharmacy does to fulfill its daily mandate to provide industry-leading customer service.

Something else Pemberton does is make sure it has the trained staff necessary to ensure that your needs are met not only quickly but courteously. Whereas it’s commonplace among retail pharmacy chains to find a skeleton staff — as aloof as they are overworked — Pemberton Pharmacy routinely carries twice the number of associates, including seven on-staff pharmacy techs — each armed with a smiling face and a warm “hello.”
Warmth seems to be a signature theme of Pemberton Pharmacy — from the natural hardwood flooring beneath your feet to the soft glow of the track lighting overhead that showcases the store’s left side. That’s where Dana Schury’s masterpiece, the Pemberton Pharmacy gift department, sits poised to tickle your fancy as well as your imagination with their potpourri of nifty notions.
“I make it a point to go to New York two or three times a year,” said Dana, who has a bachelor’s degree in arts administration from Cabrini College. “I especially enjoy going to the gift show at the Javits Center. It’s a great way to see the hot new products and emerging trends, to say nothing of just having a great time.”
With an affinity for American-made products and female-owned companies, Dana stocks modern classic toys by companies such as Melissa & Doug, which are all handcrafted and often made of wood. If you can resist Melissa & Doug’s hand puppets for children, you need to go see Craig about some appropriate medication.
There are also adorable Sugarboo hand-painted frames and the Josie Bissett-authored (yes, the same one from Melrose Place) “Tickle Monster” books, which include the pawlike “Tickle Monster” gloves that moms and dads seem to love as much as their kids do.
On the more grownup side, there are Eliza B. flip-flops, Urban Spa Essentials’ grooming products, theBalm cosmetics and oh-so-summery stuff by Just Madras and Scout. My personal favorites, however, are the hyper-retro products by LuckyTiger, Caswell-Massey and Dr. Hunter’s Castile Soap, each so evocatively nostalgic, you’ll swear you’re late for a croquet date with Scott and Zelda on the great lawn.
But if you want to talk signatures, there are Pemberton Pharmacy’s well-known monogram services. Whether it’s your stuff or theirs, the folks at Pemberton Pharmacy are ready to make your special mark on everything from bags, belts, beach towels, backpacks, robes, fleece, cottons, leather, lunch boxes, even shower curtains. Meanwhile, be sure to convert that cherished piece of sterling silver from an object to an heirloom with a timeless engraving by Pemberton Pharmacy’s expert engravers.

Make the warm festivity and unparalleled service of Pemberton Pharmacy & Gift yours to enjoy today. Located at 1147 Pemberton Dr. in Salisbury, the store is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 410-677-0707 or visit the recently renovated Web site at www.pembertonpharmacy.com.

By Nick Brandi