The end of an era
Iconic Sant Drug Co. closing after 73 years in business
Sant Drug Co., 419 W. 8th St., long considered a Yuma icon, closed Tuesday after 73 years in business. It possibly had the town’s last soda fountain and even a phone booth, remnants of a bygone era.
Many Yumans have memories of eating a Wimpy hamburger and gulping a chocolate milkshake or Al Alvarez’s Mexican food when he took over the lunch counter.
Several customers remained loyal to the pharmacy, faithfully filling their prescriptions there, even after the big chain drug companies set up shop all around town.
Co-owner Robert Sant, 74, grew up around the soda fountain. As a kid, his dad put him to work washing dishes. In the fourth grade, he started to cook.
Rumor has it that General (and
future president) Dwight Eisenhower had a milkshake there when he came to check on General Patton’s troops in the early ‘40s.
The store’s closing is bittersweet for Sant. “It’s an emotional thing since we’ve been in business for so many years,” he said Tuesday as the shelves were emptied and inventory packed up.
Although sad to be closing the store, Sant also feels a sense of relief. “There are certain worries, stress, that comes with owning a business, such as making payroll,” he said.
He semi-retired a couple of years ago and now he hopes to fully enjoy retirement.
“I just hope to live long enough,” he joked.
In 1944, his parents, Ferdy and Margaret Sant, purchased an existing drug store across the street, where Plaza Appliance is now on South 4th Avenue.
In 1952, they bought the building on West 8th Street and moved the store to its current location, which used to be a seed company.
Barbara Lee, a customer for 64 years, found out the drug store would be closing after picking up her prescriptions last week.
“I’m really sad to see them close, because they were one of the last family pharmacies in Yuma that managed to co-exist with the big brand name stores,” Lee said.
Walgreens on West 8th Street has taken over the patient load and inventory. Most customers had already picked up their prescriptions, Sant said, but for those who hadn’t, they will be sent to Walgreens. Business partner Tom Burrell will go to work as a pharmacist with Walgreens until he retires.
Sant bid his customers goodbye and expressed appreciation for their business.
“We had a great base of customers for years. I appreciate their business. Many became friends after a while,” he said.
“It’s been great to be in business in Yuma.”