I hope you are reading this before October third. Because that’s when we will celebrate our 140th Anniversary all day at the store! We will have specials on both sides of the store, a free Boars Head hot dog lunch from noon to 1:30, demonstrations, samples and fun for all! There will be plenty of raffles and prize drawings. The first two hundred customers on Saturday will receive a special Ozzies Goody bag loaded with fun stuff! Don’t miss out!
As we pass this milestone I would be remiss if I didn’t take some time for reflection on the hard work and dedication that six generations of my family have put into our store. Though I never knew my great-great grandfather Wickel or great grandfather Oswald, they were able to navigate the store for it’s first 75 years. Bridging two centuries, the industrial revolution, the Great Depression and two world wars.
My grandfather, Harold Kester and father Bob Anderson took the reins for the next 40 years. Retailing and the world of medicine changed so drastically in the middle of the 20th century. They managed to keep the business in step with all the advancements in pharmacy and also were able to keep up with all the changes out front too. The store was enlarged three times to keep up with our communities growth and needs. When we made the difficult decision to move the store from Downtown to Naperville Plaza, we had that history of change and perseverance to guide us.
