Friends' Merchants Series: BeJay Drugs, Tradition and 'Old Time' Values in a Modern Pharmacy

Editor's note: As part of their fundraising efforts for this year, the Friends of the Hasbrouck Heights Library is asking area businesses to offer discounts to library supporters who join their Friends Merchants
program. Friends' Justin Watrel has prepared profiles of
participating businesses, which Patch has agreed to publish one to two times per month throughout the year. Patch plays no role in selecting the businesses or writing the profiles.

“We always wanted to own our own pharmacy and have it be an extension of our family,” says Carla Papasavas, co-owner of BeJay Drugs.

“We are looking forward to getting to know people in the community. We have received such positive feedback since we renovated the store,” said Sam Papasavas, co-owner with his wife, “We are trying to make a conscious effort to get to know our customers.”

When former owner of Bejay Drugs, Howard Gelb, was looking to retire, Sam and Carla decided to buy the business and add their personal touch to it. Over the last six years, they have made the business their own.

“We wanted to plant our roots within the community of Hasbrouck Heights,” Carla said. Sam was born and raised in North Arlington and is a Rutgers University aumnus and Carla was born in Rhode Island and was raised in Newark. She is an aumnus of Queen of Peace.

This innovative couple met and was married while working at H.B. Drugs in North Arlington. They are the proud parents of Alexa, who is six years old and Jayden, who is two years.

“We worked for H.B for almost 10 years and we were looking into running our own business,” Sam explained. “We were looking for a business where we could get to know our customers and grow with the community as we did with H.B. It was a difficult decision to make; having the close relationships we had in North Arlington. We have been building trust with the community over the past five years and customers know that they can come to us with their questions and problems and we have been helping them the best way we can.”

When asked how they were to compete with the big chains and supermarkets, which offer the same items and service, they explained, “People have choices. Since most people have insurance, their prescriptions cost the same no matter where they go. Some of the things we are doing to differentiate ourselves from the competition are offering special services, such as being a specialty pharmacy in oncology medications and compounding specialized medications for humans and animals as well. We offer free delivery to the towns that surround Hasbrouck Heights and do a lot of consulting on Medicare D to customers that don’t understand it.”

While Sam runs the prescription end of the business, Carla oversaw the renovation of the store which included clean lines in the store design and new fixtures.

“Our roots are in Europe and we wanted to base our pharmacy on businesses we saw abroad when we were visiting,” Carla explained. “We wanted a welcoming atmosphere that features window displays that feature gifts and specialty items. The light woods and bright colors of the store design show off the merchandise. On top of the medications we carry, we offer a full line of vitamins and surgical supplies that we will assemble for you, if needed and carry unique gift items, holiday merchandise and one of a kind woman’s accessories.”

In a time with big chains cutting services and staff, it’s nice to know that there is a corner store as BeJay Drugs that offers personal services and take the time to know your needs and greet you by name. That has been the aspiration of both Sam and Carla since they bought BeJay Drugs. To keep the rich tradition of the owner customer relationship alive by making customers feel welcome in every way. It takes old fashion shopping back to a new level.

BeJay Drugs
450 Boulevard
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
www. Bejaydrugs.com
(201) 288-0404