It’s a place where everyone knows your name.
That’s not only true of the owners of Webster’s Pharmacy, Meredith and Michael Miller and their excellent staff, but it’s also the case that if you’re a local you’ll likely meet up with a neighbor or two every time you visit.
“Good afternoon, Miss Bunin,” I was greeted by a smiling staff member when I walked into the pharmacy the day after its post-Altadena fire re-opening.
As soon as she saw me, she put my order on the counter.
The display shelves, empty or product for the moment, still brimmed with stories.
When my late husband was offered an experimental chemotherapy medication for his advanced cancer, Michael called to say he had filled the prescription and would have it delivered right away. The cost was enormous, and because it was an experimental drug, it was not covered by insurance. I was almost in tears.
“The medication is on the way. We’ll figure out the money later,” Michael said.
He was good at his word. Every time I walked into the pharmacy after that, Michael asked how George was doing. Meredith was close by with a hug. They have earned the name Webster’s Community Pharmacy.
The tradition of hometown friendliness that was the core of the original Webster’s was in good hands when the Millers became the new owners. The unspoken motto – “If we don’t have it, we’ll find it for you” – lives on.
Michael is a master of finding alternative options for me because I have difficulty swallowing pills. He knows which medications can be dissolved, and which can not be crushed. He’s at the ready when I hand him an Rx that might present a problem for me.
Going the extra mile is not a task for the Millers. It’s who they are…like next-door neighbors you call when you need help.
One afternoon as I was browsing through the gift delights that Meredith curates and displays with style and splendor, she asked me if I was looking for something special.
I’d wanted a lavender straw hat for an upcoming trip. She asked where I was going and determined that I should have the hat.
“Don’t worry, I’ll find one for you,” she said with confidence. A few days later she called to say she had the perfect hat. The next time I was in the store she wanted to know all about the trip.
I would be a customer of Webster’s if it operated from a New York pushcart selling pretzels with a side of medications.
Email patriciabunin@sbcglobal.net. Follow her on X @patriciabunin and medication Patriciabunin.com