Perkins withstands the test of time - all 110 years

Now there is one. Surviving the test of time for 110 years is Perkins Drugs & Gift Shoppe, Gallatin's one and only independently owned pharmacy. 

"I think we're the oldest continuous retail business in Gallatin," pharmacist and store co-owner Sam Rickman said.

Rickman along with Ferrell Haile co-own the Gallatin institution.

Nineteenth century pharmacist, Claude Perkins opened the store on the square in Gallatin in 1895, Rickman said.

"In 1926 Mr. A. B. Perkins came here from Hartsville and he bought the business from the original owner," Rickman said.  "There was no family connection it was a coincidence that both men were named Perkins."

In the 1960s A. B. Perkins become ill and his son Tommy Perkins took over running the pharmacy until Tommy Perkins and Rickman became partners in 1967, when Rickman bought into the business.  At that point Rickman had already worked with Perkins for three years in the store's present location on Hartsville Pike.

The two men worked together until 1988.

"During that time, we closed the store downtown and moved it all to the present location.  We expanded the store.  In 1988, Tommy sold his half of the business to Ferrell so Ferrell and I have been owners and partners since 1988" Rickman said.

When Rickman first came to Gallatin to work as a pharmacist in 1964, there were 13 independently owned pharmacies and no chain stores.

By growing and adapting to change, the business has thrived through the advent of computers, managed care, TennCare and the competition from pharmacy giants such as Walgreens.

"It's not hard to be independent," Rickman said.  "Walgreens bills insurance claims to the same people that I do.  The chains are not considered the true competition.  Anymore, it's the insurance companies that dictate policies and what they'll pay that become the true competitors," he said.

But as the times have changed, so has the store.

"When we first opened this store, we had a corner of the drug store that we started selling gifts."

"When we consolidated the two stores, we built an addition on to the building that is now a gift shop.  It's grown gradually."

"We do a bridal registry.  I have a florist that works for me that does floral arrangements.  We have a broad range of gifts and decorative accessories," Rickman said.

To learn more about the store go to www.perkinsdrugs.com

This article appeared in the Sumner County News Examiner, March 25, 2005
By Deborah Highland, News Examiner Editor