| Main Street honors Beckman’s pharmacy |
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By: ERIN EDGEMON, Business Editor
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Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 7:57 am
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| When Milton and Sylvia Beckman moved to Murfreesboro after pharmacy school in 1968, they wanted what most young couples want, to live the American dream. But unlike most, that dream included owning and operating a corner drugstore in what was then a sleepy college town. The Beckmans made their dream come true only five years later when they bought the Prescription Shop in the former Polk Hotel downtown. Beckman’s Prescription Shop opened in its current location at the corner of Spring and East College streets on Valentine’s Day 1976. Since then, the Beckmans have continued to provide caring service from their neighborhood drugstore. For its years of dedication to downtown Murfreesboro, Beckman’s Prescription Shop is being honored with Main Street: Murfreesboro/Rutherford County’s Business of the Year award. The downtown revitalization program will present the honor to Sylvia Beckman at its annual membership meeting Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Maple Street Grill. Richard Gabel, executive director of Main Street, said this honor is “long overdue. “(Beckman’s) has been a downtown institution for 36 years,” he said. “In those many years, they have served our community in many ways and have taken care of most of us young and old.” Downtown business owner Chris Gerbman said Beckman’s has always taken good care of his family. “They are old-fashioned, care-about-you druggists,” he said. “They are the ones where you are not just a number on a computer.” Gerbman said he remembers Milton as an always “cordial and polite” man and Sylvia as a “sweetie.” Beckman’s is one of the pillars of downtown, and one of the last true corner drugstores, he said. Sadly, Milton lost his battle with cancer Dec. 8, 2007, leaving Sylvia to operate the business along with their many long-time employees. Working in the pharmacy without her husband is bittersweet, she said. Milton may no longer physically be in the pharmacy each day, but his legacy of taking care of and going the extra mile for customers remains. “We always think what would Milton do,” Sylvia said, tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke about the man she spent more than 40 years with. Beckman’s commitment to its customers and its family friendly atmosphere, and perhaps the likeable nature of Milton and Sylvia themselves, is what has kept the prescription shop open for almost 36 years. Sylvia said her husband, their staff and herself always tried to treat patients with kindness and compassion. “I think those things resonate with people just like when we first opened,” she said. “We try to go the extra mile,” Sylvia added later. “We want our patients to feel when they leave that they have received the best care that can be given.” Beckman’s unique colonial-style building, designed by Johnson & Bailey Architects, was built on an empty lot next door to a vacated filling station. The couple wasn’t sure if the owner would sell them the property, so the building was designed so it could be relocated. Luckily for everyone downtown, Beckman’s Prescription Shop remains a corner drugstore and a downtown institution. Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com. Beckman’s Prescription Shop 120 E. College St. 893-6661 |
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