Main Street Business

“This is it!” The car had rolled through the sleepy town of Sharon, CT, in 1960. Just a family on an outing, exploring parts of the state that were remote from their home in Norwich. They were thinking of relocating. There was a house available on Calkinstown Road. There was an open retail space in the new shopping center in the middle of town perfect for a new pharmacy. The Heacox family had arrived.

64 years on, family owned and operated Sharon Pharmacy continues to be a magnet, drawing loyal customers from around the area and continuing to attract a loyal following as new families appear and the town continues to thrive.

You see, it’s in the blood

Echoing Sly and the Family Stone’s 1971 hit, venturing into the store is being invited into the family. Chris Heacox, the welcoming face at the front counter of the pharmacy, is one of five family members who continue the tradition begun by his parents, Edward and Kathryn, who planted their roots in the community and quickly understood the importance of not just selling, but serving. While Ed ran the pharmacy, Karen, Mary and Ed, Jr. grew up, as did Chris, working in the family business. Brother Dave is in the store occasionally, but he’s focused on taking care of mom. It’s in the blood.

Edward Sr. had worked in a pharmacy in his hometown of New Hartford from the time he was a young man. His first job was steering a broom across the floor to make sure things were tidy, but he knew, instinctively, that he would be a pharmacist. With time spent in the Navy, a degree from UConn and a young family, the move to Sharon set a course that has endured through pandemics, recessions, and business challenges.

“They made sure they were open every day for the first three years,” recalls Chris. “Dad had a cot in the back room and put a bell on the front door. When it rang, he’d be up to take care of emergencies, no matter what the hour.” They took on memberships in local organizations and positions on community boards to make sure residents knew there was a full-service pharmacy in town, and there was family. 

“Mom was the bookkeeper and handled the card section. The whole family simply grew up in the store.”

More space, more service

When the bookstore left and the adjoining retail space became available, Sharon Pharmacy expanded, moving the pharmacy counter to the back of the store and adding a retail section that catered to the interest of the community. After all, the business community in Sharon was quite compact and family items like toys and soaps and greeting cards and lotions and school supplies – even some basic clothing essentials – were miles away. Need a balloon for that birthday or anniversary celebration? Turn left when you enter the store and survey the assortment available for immediate inflation. Party completed.

Turning on a dime … and giving change

The lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country continues to be a discussion point, a mile marker that changed the way companies operated, the way businesses succeeded (or failed), and the way families struggled to keep healthy. It would fall to pharmacies to be at the forefront of adapting and fighting the ravages of the disease. “We were buying hand sanitizer 12 gallons at a time, buying vitamins in multiples of our usual orders, and making every effort to maintain a safe environment,” Chris recalls. “What seemed to some so basic – wearing masks when in the store – became a challenge for a few folks who objected, but it was essential.” 

Competition from “big box” retail pharmacy chains, online pharmacies, and giant online retailers that offer literally millions of items that overlap the non-prescription items offered at Sharon Pharmacy cannot be ignored. The business has changed since Edward and Kathryn began their Sharon adventure. Through it all, the Heacox family has endured and their commitment to the broader community has never wavered.

Murgit’s side hustle

Carefully positioned on the checkout counter at the pharmacy is a book display featuring The Chudderdudders: Bogee Learns a Valuable Lesson. Clearly, it’s a children’s book and comfortably in line with the array of toys and games for sale nearby. It takes a moment, however, to check out the name of the author: Christopher J. Heacox.

“I’m not sure why,” offers Chris Heacox with a bit of a shrug, “but my dad called me ‘Murgit’ when I was a kid. The nickname stayed with him, and when he started raising children of his own, the experiences of childhood wonder merged with connections to the past, and a story took shape, populated with names and characters with family ties. 

By his own estimate, it took 30 years for Bogee and his friends to morph from being a whisper of an idea to being a published book. But, as the cliché goes, “the juice was worth the squeeze.” Now available in places as distant as Japan, Sweden, Germany and India The Chudderdudders of Murgitville has carried the Heacox name to a global audience. 

And, make no mistake, the “Murgit Mart” at the center of the story bears a striking resemblance to … wait for it … the Sharon Pharmacy. One can purchase a copy online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble’s websites or better yet, pick up one on your next visit to the Sharon Pharmacy and get Chris to autograph it just for you.

Eyes on the past … face forward … adjust quickly

At the end of each calendar year, ads created by credit card companies urge patrons to “Buy Local” or “Shop Small.” It’s an attempt to bolster the sales of card-accepting shops that look to the holiday sales cycle to meet bottom line projections. Inherent in the marketing effort is the notion of keeping small town stores alive and well in the wake of an online tsunami. 

An unwritten theme that runs through the effort is the unique ability for local retail to adjust – and do so with impressive speed. Sharon Pharmacy does not have to operate within “inventory guidelines” passed down from corporate headquarters that dictate the number, placement, and brand of bottles of shampoo or packages of aspirin. 

“We have terrific suppliers,” says Chris with deep conviction. “They allow us to respond to trends and health challenges, to find the right products to meet our customers’ requirements, and to stay competitive on pricing.”

As has too often been opined, “nothing is constant other than change.” That can be especially true in the world of neighborhood retail. As each morning brightens Sharon and surrounding towns, the pharmacy doors open and the faithful wander in to pick up their morning New York Times, share a word or two with Chris Heacox, and head off to face the day. 

“Invaluable,” offered Nat Benchley, a morning regular who stops by to pick up his Times and gather the local intelligence from Chris and his family. “The morning klatsch at the front desk is a great way for neighbors to catch up on news, trivia, and other important information. It’s our modern town square.”

After all, you know you’re always welcome because, to riff again on Sly Stone’s chant:

You see it’s in the blood,

It’s a family affair

Sharon Pharmacy is located at 8 Gay Steet in Sharon, CT. Call (860) 364-5272 or find them on Facebook.