On a misty Friday morning, the majority of the shelves inside of Harris Drug – located on the southwest corner of Main Street and Illinois Street in Lake City – are empty. What are left on the once stocked shelves are a few miscellaneous items, alongside signs informing a visitor of clearance and closure.
For more than 38 years, Harris Drug served as a staple in downtown Lake City. At 5:30 p.m. this past Friday, owner Steve Harris closed up shop for the final time.
“What I’m going to miss most is seeing the people all of the time,” Harris said of his fondest memories of owning the pharmacy. “I got used to seeing the same faces, month after month and year after year. I won’t have that anymore. In being open for more than 38 years, the town has changed a lot over that same amount of time.”
Over that amount of time, the business landscape of the small town has changed – Lake City, Iowa, included.
From the advent of the big box stores to the growing trend of online retail, the “mom and pop” shops have struggled to stay open, with a majority of these places being forced to shut down operations. While Lake City has been a fair exception to the rule, Calhoun County’s largest city is not immune to that ever-changing landscape.
“There used to be a lot more businesses on Main Street,” Harris said. “It’s narrowed down quite a bit now.”
According to Harris, the surreal aspect of shuttering the four-decade-old business hasn’t impacted him just yet.
“I have been so busy with clearance stuff, that I haven’t had time to think too much this past week,” Harris said.
With the closure of Harris Drug, the building – which has been home to a bank and several previous pharmacies, one of which included a soda fountain – will go up for sale. There are no immediate buyers, but Harris is optimistic that the historic aesthetics of the building will attract some interest.
“I’m hoping for someone to come along and create something nice with it,” Harris said.
For those who had prescriptions filled at Harris Drug, the files have been transferred to nearby Woodlawn Pharmacy. These prescriptions are also transferrable to a pharmacy of one’s choice.
As for Harris, he will transition into retirement.
“I’ll get to do what I want to do,” Harris said. “I’ll plan to do some camping, fishing, working at home and spending more time with my kids and grandkids.”
