Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd - 30 Years

The concept of Charlie’s Pharmacy Ltd was borne out of the coinciding of Charlie’s retirement with one of his daughter’s graduation from pharmacy school. This family had no antecedence, no riches, no business acumen. The heads of this household were civil servants, government employees.

Sandra Bucknor Jones was that young pharmacist, about 5 years earlier who had planted the pharmacy seed into my father Charlie’s head.

COK Credit Union turned us down for funding. Don Crawford of Century National Bank (which went south five years later) gave us a small chance. $250K as an overdraft facility. We grabbed it and never looked back. 

There was a cholera scare in Jamaica in early 1991, and when we entered the 4 walls of this abandoned building which was roofless and was everything from a gambling spot to a public “toilet”. 

Mr. Mark Azan who was giving us the guided tour, showed us “cholera” in the making on various sections of the floor. So $200K and our savings, was used to renovate and roof the building and install fixtures and fittings, while $50K was used to buy minimal starting stock. 

That Saturday morning June 1, 1991 was our new beginning. Present at work were Mommy Enid, Daddy Charlie, sister Carol, brother Dave, Mrs Merine Blair, Leslie-Ann Dixon Kelly (volunteer pharmacist), and of course me. Grand sales of $4,000 that day. We were thrilled!

Charlie’s Pharmacy has changed my whole life, and the lives of the members of my immediate blood family. I know that we have changed the lives and quality of life and health, of many people. This change I believe, is most evident in our persons living with HIV and AIDS, and in our persons who have diabetes. 

I am indebted to every customer who has entered our doors. We needed each of you to spend, in order to get to this point. Thank You. From every parish in Jamaica you have come to us for goods and caring services. Thank you for allowing us to serve you.  Please come again, and again.

But we could not have taken the first step, nor walk nor run as we have, without the input of the more than 100  ambitious, industrious, tenacious and conscientious team members who have worked in our establishment. These are our extended family members to whom we have always been and will always be, eternally grateful. Thank You.

There has been one marriage between team members, many children born to individual team members, many graduations, acquisitions and success stories among team members, and naturally, painfully, the passing of several former team members, including our own Vervell “Charlie” McDaniel. 

We have experienced at least  seven general elections and what they bring - that’s a whole other story! Let’s put it this way - there is no JDF soldier who can do the “soldier crawl” better than I can. 

Charlie’s Pharmacy itself has given birth to a subsidiary - Medicine Chest Ltd (another pharmacy nearby), and Medicine Chest Health Centre. 

It’s been a whole lifetime of experiences. Working in Downtown, Kingston, west of Parade, being the manager of people, of sometimes 35 people, being a FEMALE manager, has not been easy.

There is NEVER a dull moment in Downtown Kingston, West of Parade. Never. Working in Downtown, Kingston, West of Parade, as a female manager, is not for Sissies. 

As for me, I am a different person from that youthful, exuberant, naive 23 year old who was scared to go downtown to work. I have grown in  every way, including sideways! I have done so much, had so many moments of pride, happiness, sadness and grief inside those 4 walls at 1 West Queen Street, and outside those walls in the last 30 years. 

I have learned to relax my muscles now, and I got married and became a parent (not in that order) in the last so many years. At the end of the day, on this our 30th Anniversary, I feel like Charlie’s is not facing the beginning of the end of Charlie’s. On the contrary, I feel like Charlie’s is just at the end of the beginning of Charlie’s. 

“Excellent Health Care is Our Minimum Standard” is what we continue to believe and practice. You have to LOVE PEOPLE to do all that we do for our clients, patients, customers, persons. “Treat every patient like he or she is your mother.”

And as my dear friend Forrest Gump would say, “That’s all I have to say about that!” 

But maybe what I really want to say, is what my dear friend Forrest Gump would say about Jenny……..” But most of all………I think about Charlie”.

Contacts:

Charlie's Pharmacy Ltd
1 West Queen Street, Kingston
876-967-0392,  876-948-3160
charliesrx@gmail.com

Digicel : 876-618-9999

Digicel : 876-618-9119

Whatsapp Your Prescriptions : 876-787-5025

Fax : 876-967-3423