DeChristopher Pharmacy Fills Its Last Prescriptions

With only one more day left in business, Harvey Seeley was still dusting off his store's original carved wooden “pharmacy” sign above the counter in on South St. in Peekskill. Seeley has been at DeChristopher for the last 40 years, and owned and operated the neighborhood store since 1990.

The 63-year-old pharmacist was unsure of what Peekskill’s incoming Walgreens, set to open on Friday, Feb. 11, would mean for his business at first. But he has now found the new chain store and pharmacy to be his sweet escape from the headaches of owning a business, as well as a way to continue to serve his customers. Seeley sold his customer list and most of his inventory to Walgreens and has taken a job at the new store as a full-time pharmacist. His two employees will also become Walgreens employees.

“All of my customers records are on file in Walgreens just as they have been,” said Seeley.

“This is actually a great opportunity for me,” said Seeley. “I am looking forward to having a vacation,” he said with a smile, mentioning times where he had to miss out on family vacations and the prospect of finally being able to visit a relative in London. Seeley added that by working for Walgreens he will have a regular 40-hour workweek with normal hours and benefits, two things that were hard to manage as a small business owner.

“I am the type of guy who worries about everything,” Seeley said. “Now I get rid of the burden of handling insurance companies, New York State and mail order. Mail order is really hurting pharmacies.”

After graduating from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Seeley moved to the area to marry his college sweetheart who is from Cortlandt Manor. Since 1971, Seeley has been happily married and working at DeChristopher. The store was originally owned by Edward DeChristopher, who opened shop in 1932 in the storefront next door to the current DeChristopher; the business was bought by Edward’s brother Charles DeChristopher in 1970. Charles was the man who offered Seeley his job as a pharmacist.

“Charlie was one of the nicest men I have ever met,” said Seeley, remembering his former employer and friend who passed away just a few days ago.

Seeley said that customers have all been understanding of the move. “We are all saddened that an independent pharmacy is closing, but everyone has said they are happy for me and as long as I’m at Walgreen’s they’ll be there,” he said.

Still, a customer paying for her prescriptions at DeChristopher for the last time on Wednesday afternoon told the sales clerk she will see her at Walgreens, but doesn’t think she will like going there as much as she enjoyed DeChristopher. “I am going to miss this place.” 

Earlier in the week, as Eileen Burns was checking out, she reminisced about how her 86-year-old father had worked as a soda jerk when he was young. “I grew up with this place,” said Burns. “I am going to miss it.”

Seeley said the one thing he will miss is his down time that he got to spend chatting with customers who sat in the old fashioned wooden chairs in front of the counter.

“But I can still talk to them, it will just be through the window,” he said.

Jose Colon, a pharmacist at the Cortlandt Town Center’s A&P who sometimes filled in for Seeley at DeChristopher, sold his independent pharmacy Quality Rite in 1995.

“You never get rest when you are an owner,” said Colon, who said he is very happy at the A&P and with his decision to sell. “I had a great time working here. It is a great mom and pop store, but times are changing.”

Colon shook Seeley’s hand and congratulated him on his decision to take a new direction in his life.

“See the smile on his face,” Seeley said of Colon as he talked about being free from the burdens of ownership. “That is the smile that I want.”

Former DeChristopher customers just need to call 914-930-3100 to refill prescriptions, and will pick up their prescriptions at Walgreens on the corner of Main and Broad St., instead of at DeChristopher. Walgreens opens tomorrow, Feb. 11.

Check back with Patch for more on the Walgreens opening.

Editor's Note: This article was updated to reflect that the original store was located next door to 745 South St. where DeChristophers was located at the time of closing on Feb. 10, 2011.