Despite chilly weather earlier this month, the atmosphere at Oswald’s Pharmacy in Naperville was filled with warmth and cheerfulness as the community celebrated the store’s 140th anniversary.
The milestone marks the business’s position as the second-oldest in Naperville and the oldest family-run pharmacy in the state.
Owner Bill Anderson is the fifth generation to own the store that was founded by W.W. Wickel in 1875, then situated in downtown Naperville.
“We love this town, just as the generations before us loved it, and we want to commemorate that with a day of celebrations, Oswald’s style,” he announced prior to the festivities that included prize drawings, specials, a coloring contest, a magician, goody bags, free hot dogs and soda, in addition to a special 140th anniversary cake.
Oswald’s Pharmacy just expanded its medical equipment department, adding 5,000 square feet to the store this past spring.
“We saw the need in our community for an extensive home health equipment department,” Anderson said. “In addition to the popular card and gift section, our new addition carries everything from walkers to lift chairs to knee braces and Dr. Comfort shoes.”
The drug store is open seven days a week and delivers prescriptions and medical equipment all over Naperville. It also houses a full-service U.S. postal office where customers can conveniently have their mailing needs met, from buying stamps to sending express mail.
The pharmacy, also a Chamber of Commerce member for 101 years, exemplifies some of Naperville’s traditions of growth, innovation and economic perseverance, started by Wickel. He was succeeded in 1915 by his son-in-law Louis Oswald, Arnold’s great-grandfather, who changed the name to Oswald’s.
He added a soda fountain and the Rexall franchise, a drug powerhouse in the 1950s, to the growing store. Son-in-law Harold Kester took over the store in 1954, expanding three times, and in response to a growing clientele he added a franchise fragrance and cosmetic line to the store. After Kester retired in 1977, his son-in-law Bob Anderson, Bill’s father, took over. Bob Anderson continued with the tradition of innovative changes by introducing the first computerized operations in a Naperville pharmacy. When he retired in 1991, his son took over the pharmacy.
In 2004 Oswald’s moved to the popular Naperville Plaza shopping center, at 88 Gartner Road.
“In 2005 Oswald’s won the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award in the retail category,” according to a company statement. In 2006, Oswald’s joined the Health Mart Pharmacy franchise, according to the company.
Daina Saleh is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.