While heading down Grant Street earlier today, I passed by 476 Grant Street, which now boasts a new storefront. I was in the midst of contemplating the ups and downs of the street – as I always do – when the lit-up storefront caught my eye.
I pulled over and stopped in to take a gander at the interior, because I was so impressed with the appearance of the new business – Premier Pharmacy. The pharmacist behind the counter told me that they had opened their doors in October, and that I should bring my health insurance card with me the next time if I was interested in having a script filled out. I told him that I would return, which I might just do in order to support the fledgling business that has done a remarkable job transforming what was once a decrepit structure into a sharp addition to the street.
This type of investment onto Grant Street gives me great hope for the street’s future. So often, storefronts along this stretch are opened with cheap vinyl signs, ragtag window displays, peeling paint, and overly cluttered interiors. I must admit that there are a couple of markets that look like they’re from some Caribbean island, with reggae-colored paint jobs that do add some nice flair to the oft-drab streetscape, but on the other hand there are a lot of storefronts that simply look unkempt.
The owners of Premier Pharmacy did a great job of creating a well-lit (not obnoxiously lit) storefront that is very inviting and aesthetically appealing to the eye. These are the types of proud neighborhood business that we should all be supporting, instead of the big box pharmacies that do little for communities other than offer convenient parking…