Happy New Year! It’s a new year and with that, exciting news: beginning January 1st, 2021 I will be the sixth-generation owner of Oswald’s Pharmacy! I’m grateful to carry on this legacy and continue serving our wonderful customers and community. Since my great-great-grandfather William Wallace Wickel opened the store in Downtown Naperville in 1875, there has been quite a bit of change in our community.
When my Grandfather Robert started working for the pharmacy in the late 1950s, Naperville was a small town of 12,000 residents. When my father Bill took ownership in 1991, the town had ballooned to over 85,000 residents. Today, Naperville’s population is close to 150,000! Though our town has grown, Oswald’s continues to provide a ‘small town’ level of care and service that sets us apart from the chains.
Alex and his father Bill at the old Downtown Naperville location in the early 2000s.
Oswald’s “Where Wonder Meets Wellness”
In this day and age, it’s not often you find an independent pharmacy like Oswald’s in large cities like Naperville. Due to the massive growth of chains like CVS and Walgreens, independent drugstores are hard to find in more populous areas. Some of you may not remember when your only pharmacy options in town were Oswald’s, Alton’s, Albrecht’s, and Naperville Pharmacy–not a chain in sight! Truth is, independents offer a level of care only a family-run business can provide.
A peculiar but telling way we earn a customer’s loyalty is often from the lack of care received elsewhere. Our pharmacy staff often gets calls asking about specific drug interactions or advice on an over-the-counter medicine. One of our pharmacists will ask the caller’s name to look up their profile – to which they’ll shyly admit they’re not a customer, but their current pharmacy never picks up the phone (or they’re on hold forever). Sound familiar?
Beyond prescription advice for our community, we are dedicated to fulfilling our customers’ needs in many other ways. Throughout our years in business, and well before the COVID-19 pandemic, Oswald’s has provided free prescription delivery. We continue to deliver to customers around the Naperville area at no charge 7 days a week. We also know how important it is to listen to our customers. The growth of our natural & organic products, puzzle varieties, and medical equipment selection is a direct result of customer feedback. The community asked and we listened.
Oswald’s is Not Just a Pharmacy
In addition to our full-service pharmacy and healthcare items, our 15,000 square foot store includes a gift, toy & game department, a full-service United States Post Office service station (Naperville’s best-kept secret some say!), an industry-leading medical equipment showroom, a wide selection of books & magazines, a huge greeting card section, Naperville souvenirs, and so much more.
As our family-run business proudly enters its 146th year, I want to say thank you. For those that have been longtime customers of the pharmacy, I’m grateful for your continued support. For those of you who are new, or have just heard of us, I look forward to helping you and your family stay healthy in the coming years.
If you’re not a prescription customer, I’d like to invite you to join the ‘Ozzie’s family’, as many of our regulars call us. As the new owner of my family’s small business, I’m always available to you, our customers. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me at alex@oswaldspharmacy.com or say hello next time you’re in the store!
I wish you all a safe & healthy New Year!
Alex
