STORE CLOSES AFTER 52 YEARS

Former emp

SIX SENTIMENTAL
gentlemen gathered recently
for the official closing of
Boots Drug Store, at the
corner of 16th and Lonsdale
Avenue, which marked the
end of 52 years of drug store
history under various
owners.

The six all had something in
common ~— having worked as
pharmacists at the drug store,
which has existed under different
names and owners at that corner
since 1936.

The Boots chain has been sold
off and the {6th and Lonsdale
store acquired by Royal Trust for
redevelopment.

North Vancouver District Ald,
Murray Dykeman and fellow
pharmacists John Little, Gordon
Alfan, Les Doyle, Dick Fester and
Bob Mason attended the ciosing,
and) reminisced about old times
when they, at various times, haa
worked in the drug store.

“Y felt that corner was one of
the hearts of Upper Lonsdale — a
meeting place. The post office
made it an even busier place,”
recalled Dykeman.

Dykeman said that people liked
to work at the store because it was
part of a small chain of indepen-
dent people. But retail growth has
since moved to shopping centres
and to Lower Lonsdale, he ex-
plained.

Known as Nelson’s Pharmacy
from 1936 to 1940, the store was
purchased by John Robinson and
changed to Robinson’s Drug Store
from 1940 to 1946,

“Several of the people that were
involved in the store went away
during the Second World War,”
says Dykeman.

Frank Isaacs, who had worked
at Nelson’s before, returned from

SOME FORMER employees of Isaacs Pharmacy (now Boots Drug
Store) gathered, July 30, for the closing of the original store. Holding a
pop bottle and some old records and mementoes, they are (left to right)
John Little, Gordon Allan, Les Doyle, North Vancouver District Ald.

Murray Dykeman, Dick Fester and Bob Mason.

the war, got his pharmacy license
and acquired the store in 1946.
Ald, Dyke:aan and Les Doyle
started working there in 1950, and
together with Gordon Allan and
Isaacs, formed fsaacs Pharmacy
Lid., which carried on until 1974.
Isaacs expanded to a franchise
with 20 stores across British Col-

af

umbia. Mason, {Little and Foster
joined in as partners in the 1960s,

Although all six men still live on
the North Shore, they have since
gone on to other pharmacies.
Dykeman has been with Shoppers
Drug Mart for the past 14 years,
and is now working in Kerrisdale.
Allen has retired.

THE ABBOTSFORD AIRSHOW
NEXT WEEKEND: AUGUST 12, 18, 14
Thrill to — s Canadian Armed Forces Snowbirds
@ Uniled States Navy Blue Angels & Team America

® Top Gun Squadron @ Craig Hosking Inverted Pitts Special
@ Gud Granleys Glasair @ Joann Osterud’s Hyperbipe

and so much more.

Gate Admission $30.00. Formula Shell Route $25.00 per carload
(max. 6 people) available only in advance al

V7C/Ticketmaster. Frontline Reserved Box Seating

$10.00 per person.

THE FLIGHT CONTINUES

wg hls

31 - Sunday, August 7, 1988 - North Shore News

Feud
caiis for

apology
PAGE 32

loyees gather for drug store closing