Small Business of the Year 2007
Great success stories often start as humble beginnings. But the greatest success stories finish with humility. Integrity and a true commitment to establishing customer trust sit at the heart of why Hamlin Pharmacy is named Small Business of the Year.
Opened in 1960 at the corner of Staples Street and Weber Road, where is still sits today, owner and pharmacist Carl Arnold said he remembers the store’s meager beginnings.
“We only had enough money to buy one box of each product, so we would set the bottle out of the box and place the box behind the product so it looked like we had two of everything,” Arnold said with a laugh. “We really started on a shoestring.”
But the formula Arnold used for years, and that he now uses with his daughter, (a partner in the business), is old-fashioned customer service.
When Hamlin Pharmacy opened its doors 47 years ago, 27 independent pharmacies operated in Corpus Christi. Today, Hamlin Pharmacy is one of five left in operation.
The store also includes one of Corpus Christi’s most famous restaurants, and now a gift shop as well. Take a seat on a bar stool and order a burger or a cup of famous chili, and it’s still prepared by the original cook who started when Hamlin Pharmacy opened.
“Our customers really trust us – we call them by name. I think people like the small store atmosphere,” Arnold said. “We’re really like a family here. Our customers are not like numbers, they have truly become our friends. The neighborhood has gotten older, but our customers have stayed loyal, so we stay loyal to them.”
-bios writen by Chamber Member Omar Lopez
