About Perkins Drugs

Perkins Drugs opened on the square in Gallatin in 1895 by a pharmacist named Claude Perkins. He operated the store until 1926 when Andrew Bolin Perkins came from Hartsville and bought the store. There was no family connection - just a coincidence that both were named Perkins. Mr. Bolin operated a very successful business and became a well respected and active member of this town. His son, Tommy Perkins, attended the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy and after graduating served in the military during the Korean conflict. After that, he returned to Gallatin and became part of Perkins Drugs with his father. In the late 1950s Tommy took over the store during his father's failing health.

In 1964, Tommy bought property on Hartsville Pike and built what was known as Perkins #2. At that time the only things out that far were a service station, the new hospital, and Perkins. At that time Tommy hired Sam Rickman to run the new store. And, in 1967 he became a full partner. In the 1970s the store downtown closed and moved to the Hartsville Pike location. At that time the property adjacent was purchased from E.M. Stasks and the present Gift Shoppe was added to the original building.

In 1988 Ferrell Haile purchased Tommy Perkins' interest in Perkins Drugs and he and Sam Rickman became partners. Even though no Perkins was associated with the drug store then, the owners did not want to change the name of a drug store that had been such a part of Gallatin history.

In 2005 Andrew Finney came to work as a pharmacist at Perkins, just out of University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy. Then, in 2009 Andrew became a full partner with Sam and Ferrell.

Perkins Drugs is proud of its history and service to Gallatin and Sumner County for over 115 years and as of today, December 2010, it is the only independent pharmacy serving the Gallatin community.