Minnich's Pharmacy, one of the few remaining independent pharmacies in York County, is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and leaders of the business say its employees and customers are at the heart of its success.
Customers can walk into the traditional drugstore in the Colonial Shopping Center in York to pick up prescriptions, get a flu shot, and buy over-the-counter healthcare needs. Beyond that familiar storefront, the business has diversified over the years to remain relevant as national pharmacy chains now dominate the market.
Minnich's Pharmacy offers pharmaceutical services to nursing and personal care homes as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities. The company hosts vaccine clinics for businesses and organizations in the community and delivers prescriptions to customers' homes. The Medicine Shoppe of York, which the company purchased a few years ago, compounds drugs to meet customers' specific needs.
One of the best decisions the business leaders said they made was to transition from a family-owned business to an employee-owned company in 1991.
"I think it's been a driving point of why we're so successful ... going from independently family-owned to being employee-owned, and whether you're a pharmacist, you work in the billing office, you're a delivery driver, you're a pharmacy technician, you're a clerk. It doesn't matter what you're doing, you get ownership in the business, and that gives you the want for the business to do well and be successful," said Deron Shultz, a pharmacist and chief executive officer.
Llywellyn "Bud" Minnich, who started the first in-house pharmacy at York Hospital, opened his own business at 501 W. Market St. in the former Doctors' Row neighborhood.
"My uncle was the best pharmacist I've ever known," said Lance Minnich, a pharmacist and former president of the business. "And pharmacy was not only his occupation, it was his passion."
Minnich's Pharmacy opened a location at 976 S. George St. in 1956. The pharmacy operated both the South George Street and West Market Street locations for a period of time. The South George Street store was one of the original tenants of the Colonial Shopping Center and is the only original business still remaining there, Lance Minnich said.
The profession has evolved over the years from hundreds of medications to thousands today. The work that was done manually decades ago is now largely automated with computer software that helps to monitor for drug interactions, side effects and medication adherence.
Minnich's Pharmacy even has two robots to help package the medications — a task that used to be done by hand. While the robots have helped to save time, they also allowed the business to expand.
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"We've always had really good pharmacists, and the employees are the key to being able to do what we do," Lance Minnich said.
The company employs 95 to 105 people, Shultz said. They include pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, delivery drivers, community health workers, a care coordinator, staff in the billing department, and a human resources director.
The staff is like family, said Aimee Truppi, director of development.
The customers recognize that, said Scott Miller, director of community pharmacy who has worked for the business for more than 30 years. The patrons get to speak with an employee when they call in. They don't have to leave a voicemail and wait for a call back.
"Here, they still get to talk to a person and get the care that they're looking for," he said.
Minnich's Pharmacy offers complimentary delivery of prescriptions to its customers. The company has seven vehicles and makes about 8,000 deliveries per month, Shultz said.
The employees get to know their customers.
"That's the sad part about retirement," Lance Minnich said. "You miss the people."
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An open house will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16 at Minnich's Pharmacy, 976 S. George St. in York, to celebrate the business's 80th anniversary. Food trucks will be available at the event.
Teresa Boeckel is a reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Contact her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Why Minnich's Pharmacy in York is still thriving after 80 years