Smith's Drug (Gone)
Gastonia, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Walk through downtown Gastonia and it's easy to imagine Smith's Drug as one of the places that tied everything together. It wasn't the biggest storefront on Main Avenue, but it was the kind of neighborhood drug store every downtown seemed to have. Seeing it still open back in 2008 was enough reason to stop for a photograph. 07-08

For more than 80 years, Smith's served generations of Gastonia residents. Long before chain pharmacies took over, this was the sort of place where you could fill a prescription, visit with familiar faces, and, years earlier, even grab a bite at the soda fountain before heading on your way. Stores like this were never just about medicine. They became part of the routine of everyday life.

One of the nice things about wandering through older downtowns is finding businesses that don't seem to have changed very much. Smith's had that feeling. It blended naturally into the streetscape, quietly doing business while the rest of downtown evolved around it. Nothing flashy, just another dependable hometown landmark.

UPDATE: Smith's Drug closed in 2016 after serving downtown Gastonia for more than 80 years. The building has since been restored for new businesses, and the old drug store storefront has disappeared. 07-26

Crew Rexall Drugs (Gone)
Rockford, AL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Drive into Rockford and it doesn't take long to spot Crew Rexall Drugs. Hanging over the sidewalk is the familiar blue and orange Rexall sign, the kind that instantly takes you back to the days when every small town seemed to have its own neighborhood pharmacy. 01-09

For years, Crew Drugs was more than just a place to fill prescriptions. Inside was a soda fountain and lunch counter where people gathered for a bite to eat, swapped stories, and caught up on the latest town news. Even the town's famous stray dog, Fred, was known to stop by for a handout from the folks behind the counter.

The pharmacy eventually closed, but the old Rexall sign never left. It still hangs over Main Street, giving visitors a glimpse of the days when independent drug stores were as much a part of small-town life as the courthouse and the railroad.

UPDATE: Crew Rexall Drugs has closed, and the drug store is gone. 07-26

Blountsville Pharmacy
Blountsville, AL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Small-town pharmacies always seem to have a little more character, and Blountsville Pharmacy was no exception. Its roadside marquee stood out along Main Street with just enough old-fashioned style to make you slow down for a look. 01-09

The pharmacy has served the Blountsville community for years, but it's the sign that gives the place its roadside personality. Nothing fancy, just the kind of neighborhood marquee that fits perfectly along an old downtown street.

UPDATE: Blountsville Pharmacy remains open on Main Street. The sign was still up as of a year ago. 07-26

Pell City Drugs (Gone)
Pell City, AL
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Here's another of the old Rexall drug store signs, this one found in the town of Pell City, AL. The Pell City Rexall Drugs is no longer a drug store but is now a restaurant. Many thanks to Alan Culley for info. 01-09

The business first opened in 1903 and later became a Rexall drug store, serving generations of Pell City residents. Over the years it even doubled as a Greyhound bus stop, a Western Union office, and the town's telephone exchange, making it much more than just another pharmacy.

UPDATE: The pharmacy closed around 2000, and the historic building is now home to a Mexican restaurant. 07-26

Parker Drugs (Closed)
Leeds, AL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Even after the doors closed, the old Parker Drugs sign still lets you know what this place once was. Rising above Parkway Drive, the familiar RX perched on top is the first thing that catches your eye, a reminder of the days when every town seemed to have its own neighborhood drugstore. 04-09

The brick building dates to the 1950s and served Leeds for many years as Parker Rexall Drugs. By the time this photo was taken, the vintage sign was already doing most of the talking, quietly standing watch over a business that had been part of the community for generations.

UPDATE: The building remains vacant, and the old roadside sign still stands, although time has not been kind to it. The neon is no longer lit, and parts of the sign have been damaged. 07-26

Wikle Drugs (Closed)
Anniston, AL
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Some old Rexall signs just seem to brighten up a downtown street, and Wikle Drugs has one of the best. Hanging above Noble Street, the familiar orange and blue colors make it hard to pass by without taking another look. 04-09

The drugstore dates back to 1883, making it one of Anniston's oldest commercial landmarks. While the business closed in 2000, the classic projecting sign survived and still gives the building the look of a neighborhood drugstore from another time.

UPDATE: The building has been renovated for new uses, and the vintage Rexall sign remains in place overlooking Noble Street. 07-26