Lexington family-run pharmacy still thriving after 77 years

Chris Venier joined the family business when he was 12 years old, manning the soda fountain at Theatre Pharmacy. Some 60 years later, Venier, 72, owns the pharmacy, which has been a fixture in Lexington Center for nearly eight decades.

Veniers father, Ed, opened the store in 1935 with the help of Lexingtonian Jackie Ray.

Jack was what you might call the front store guy, who knew everybody in town, Venier said.

The pharmacy operated a soda shop, which provided the young Venier with his first job.

My first job was scraping gum from underneath the soda fountain, then I graduated to actually working behind the soda fountain, he joked. He became a full-time pharmacist in 1962, working alongside his father.

Theatre Pharmacy was originally located adjacent to a vaudeville theater (now the Lexington Venue). Venier said the pharmacy would open from 7 a.m. until as late as 11 p.m. to catch the theatergoers for soda and ice cream.

In 1950, with the business growing, Veniers father decided to move the store to a bigger location (now Signature Stationers) on the other side of the theater.

The store became more successful in the second location because it was one of the first stores to have air conditioning and it was quite beautifully fixtured at that time, Venier said.

While his father was on vacation overseas in 1974, Venier received a notice from the landlord informing him the rent had increased. After seeking advice from other local business owners, Venier was able to work out a deal to sublet the pharmacys current location at 1784 Massachusetts Ave., right next to the original location (now Sweet Beads).

My father was away in Europe. I couldnt talk to him and I essentially moved the store while he was away, he recalled. He was surprised but happy about it.

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Lexington family-run pharmacy still thriving after 77 years