Vandalia pharmacist closing doors after decades of service
A Vandalia pharmacist who has been serving the community for 50 years will close the doors of his local pharmacy today.
Ken Farst is closing Ken’s Pharmacy, 330 E. National Road, after decades of service.
“He was one of the top 100 drugstores in 1988 in the U.S.A.,” said his son, Allen Farst, a Dayton-area documentary filmmaker. “He has a lot of interesting stories to tell about that business.”
Pharmacy owner Farst said the pharmacy is being sold to the Rite Aid chain.
“He’s one of the last guys still going after 50 years,” his son said. “His story of starting out is really cool.”
The elder Farst came from Ohio Northern University to Dayton to work at Beerman’s pharmacy. After a year or two, he bought Owl Drug’s, which then became his namesake business, Ken’s Pharmacy.
“He worked seven days a week, 12 hours a day for a long time,” Allen Farst said. “He created a buying group that grew to 28 to 30 stores.”
In about 1982, he moved from his 2,000-square-foot home in a shopping center to a much larger space offering nearly 14,000 square feet.
It was a premier store at the time, his son recalled. In 1988, he was recognized as one of the top 100 independent stores in the country.
“He has been a beacon in the Vandalia community who people have trusted,” Allen Farst said.
All prescription files will be transferred to the Rite Aid Pharmacy, 10 W. National Road in Vandalia.
The pharmacy’s hours will be 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on its final day in business today.