The Apothecary Celebrates 38 Years of Service

Hidden behind the Cardinal Forest Shopping Center in a dated office complex, stands as a testament to all local businesses that strive to survive in our tough economy.

Founders Cathy and Larry Burns of Fairfax have owned and operated their neighborhood pharmacy in Springfield for 38 years. When Larry passed away two years ago, Cathy kept the business in the family with the help of her adult children and loyal staff.

Brian Burns, Cathy’s son and General Manager of The Apothecary, credits the pharmacy’s longevity to the type of customer care not provided at the corporate-owned chain stores. “Our customers know us,” said Brian. “A lot of the times you go to the chain stores and you don’t know who is going to work from day to day. It’s almost like Cheers here, where everyone knows your name.”

When the Apothecary opened 1973, most privately owned pharmacies had gone out of business. Chain stores like Drug Fair (now Walgreen’s) and People’s Drug (now CVS) were opening up in most local shopping centers.

“We were never competing with them because we had service,” said Cathy. “We had free delivery way back when we first started. We’d come out and explain every prescription to people. That wasn’t happening in chains—and they still don’t have free delivery.”

But the differences don’t end there. “We also do a lot of compounding of medications,” explained Brian. “We’re creating a form of a medication that’s not available, and a lot of chain stores don’t want to do that. So if a doctor writes that type of prescription, they’ll say, “Go to the Apothecary”.”

The Apothecary’s staff also enjoys working in a service and family oriented environment. Retired Navy Captain Bill Russell came aboard as the The Apothecary’s Pharmacist in Charge in January. “I would never go to a pharmacy like that (a chain store) because all you do is count by five’s and tell people where the garden hoses on sale are,” said Bill. “To me, that’s not pharmacy.”

The Future of the Pharmacy

Will The Apothecary stay in the family? “Yes,” said Brian. “That’s something my mom and my sister have talked about. When the time comes, my sister and I want to take over the legacy. The change in the store might be in ownership, but still keeping it in the family.

“I would like to believe that we can continue to provide the same type of service and that the customers will realize they have a choice.

The Apothecary will celebrate their anniversary on Tuesday with a sheet cake and business as usual. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s a balance of family and professionalism that’s kept the pharmacy in business for 38 years.

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One in a continuing series on how Burke residents are pursuing their version of the American Dream.