Ranko's Drugs
Tacoma, WA
Photo courtesy John Spencer

Independent drugstores seem to get harder to find every year, which makes Ranko's Drugs a welcome sight in Tacoma. The old projecting sign still hangs outside, reminding passersby of a time before every corner seemed to have the same chain pharmacy. Photo date: 09-05

Located in Tacoma's Stadium District, Ranko's has been serving the neighborhood for generations. It's more than a place to fill a prescription. The store has long been known for friendly service, gifts, and the kind of personal attention that's becoming increasingly rare. For many years it even operated a postal station, making it one of those neighborhood businesses where you could take care of several errands in a single stop.

UPDATE: Ranko's Stadium Pharmacy remains open, and the classic projecting sign still welcomes customers to the Stadium District. 07-26

Rx Drugs (Gone)
Cottage Grove, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

Sometimes it's the simplest signs that catch your eye. Perched high above the roofline, the Rx Drugs sign was an easy landmark for anyone passing through downtown Cottage Grove. It didn't need flashing lights or fancy lettering. That familiar prescription symbol said everything. Photo date: 03-06

The building was originally home to McCoy's Pharmacy, an independent drugstore that served the community for many years. After a fire destroyed much of the block in 1990, the pharmacy building was rebuilt and continued serving customers before eventually moving to a newer location elsewhere in town.

The rooftop sign was my favorite part of the scene. It gave the whole block a classic small-town look and was one of those details that made it worth stopping for a photograph.

UPDATE: The pharmacy has moved, the downtown building has been repurposed, and the rooftop Rx sign has been removed. 07-26

Service Drugs (Gone)
Grants Pass, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

The bright neon letters on Service Drugs must have been hard to miss after dark. Sitting along busy Northwest 6th Street, the marquee gave this neighborhood drugstore the kind of classic look that made an ordinary errand feel just a little more interesting. Photo date: 03-06

Service Drugs was part of the old Pay 'n Save Shopping Center, serving local customers back when independent pharmacies were still a familiar sight. The glowing sign was the real attraction, adding a splash of color to the shopping center and catching the attention of drivers passing by.

It's the kind of roadside scene that was once common but has become harder to find with each passing year.

UPDATE: Service Drugs has closed, the storefront is now occupied by a convenience store, and the vintage neon marquee has been removed. 07-26