Business of the Year Award Goes to Smith’s Pharmacy

KENBRIDGE – The Lunenburg County Chamber of Commerce recently honored their 2017 “Business of the Year” winner and the recipient has a long history in the county.

Chamber official Bernice Thompson presented the award to Chris Buchanan and said that the pharmacy is more than just a place to pick up medicine for local citizens.

She stated, “They offer immunization shots, synchronization of filling the patient’s medicines at the same time each month, packing of medicines weekly for an entire month and they will check several companies for senior citizens to choose which one is the best company for their Medicare needs.”
Thompson continued, “The staff is very friendly and helpful.” She noted that the pharmacists are careful to make sure customers understand everything about the medicine they have been given. She continued, “Some of us call Chris and Rebecca our doctor.”

Smith’s Pharmacy is a locally owned and operated pharmacy and is the oldest family owned business in Kenbridge.

The business was started in 1930 by R. Maclin Smith and his wife, Annie. It has operated at the current location of 111 South Broad Street since 1932. The store has changed owners through the years with Kush Wilkerson owning the store in the 1950’s and his nephew George Buchanan, along with Mike Berryman, taking over the business in 1971.

The business has stayed in the Buchanan family to the present day as Chris Buchanan and business partners Ken Simms and Rick Clary purchased the business in 2001. They continue to provided Lunenburg residents and many people from surrounding areas with pharmacy care and services.

Chris started working at the store at age 13. He and Rebecca Reitz are the full time pharmacists, while the business also employs four full-time employees and provides part- time work for area students.