Congdon's Pharmacy to close Sept. 30
Business and building are both sold
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENTWRITER
One of Nantucket's most unique and historic landmarks will disappear when Congdon's Pharmacy closes its doors for good on Sept. 30. Both the business and the building at 47 Main St. are being sold.

The busy lunch counter at Congdon's Pharmacy will be soon empty of customers. Seaman Scheppes, the new owner of the Congdon's Pharmacy building, plans to renovate the interior of the current drug store area while preserving the exterior character of the building.

Owner John Bertolami confirmed on Friday that he will sell the pharmacy business to Allan Bell, owner of Nantucket Pharmacy and Island Pharmacy. He will sell the two-story brick building to the owners of Seaman Schepps, a fine jewelry store that opened on the island nine years ago. Seaman Schepps currently leases space at 50 Main St. and has stores on Park Avenue in New York City and in Palm Beach, Fla.

Bertolami, who says he wants to retire, anticipates the closing on the building to occur between Oct. 2 and 15.

"It's a bittersweet experience. I'm very sad to be closing the store. It has been part of my life for 30 years, but at the same time it's time to retire," said Bertolami. "I've been very fortunate to have such loyal customers and it has been a pleasure to serve them. You know all the old people and you know all the new people. It hurts to leave them. I'm selling it to Allan Bell, which is wonderful. He is honest, he has integrity and his knowledge of pharmacy will ensure the spirit of Congdon's lives on."

PHOTOS BY ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

Bertolami also had sentiments and appreciation for his many long-time employees and his pharmacists Linda Joahimthal and Jill Audycki, who is married to pharmacist Ken Knutti of Nantucket Pharmacy. Bertolami explained that Nantucket Pharmacy will incorporate all of Congdon's prescription customers, its inventory, customer records and other goods on Oct. 1. Bell is also assuming the Congdon's phone number.

Bertolami said a couple of years ago, when he first thought of selling the pharmacy, he sent hundreds of letters to drug stores but only received interest from a chain he will not name that did not follow through on a purchase when it learned that chain businesses were not welcome on Nantucket. Bertolami, who owns Boston Pharmacy Management Company with about 100 employees, is still under contract to run the two out-patient pharmacies at Boston Medical Center and will complete his contractural role as pharmacy director. His company handles approximately one million prescriptions a year, he said.

"I hate to do this because when you have your life devoted to something it's hard to do. It's a very personal thing, but it's time to slow down a little," Bertolami said of stepping back from his Nantucket obligations. "Things go on and people go on, but the business will be fine and we have good people going in. They're not just popping in off the street."

According to Bertolami's records, the pharmacy opened in 1860 and was first called Jagger's Drug and Chemical Store. It changed hands through the years, with Bertolami and his former wife Jacqueline Tullo buying the building and business in 1977 from Harry Rex and Walter Fairbanks, the same year Bell bought the Nantucket Pharmacy business next door at 45 Main St. from Walter Knott before buying the building from him in 1981. In 2000, Tullo sold her interest in the property to Bertolami.

The island's side-by-side pharmacies have been known for their old-fashioned soda fountains, a feature nearly extinct because chain-type drug stores have all but wiped out independent pharmacies. Now, Nantucket will be down to one soda counter run by Peter VanDingstee, who presently operates both drug store lunch enterprises.

This winter, Seaman Scheppes partners Jay Bauer and Anthony Hopenhajm will renovate the interior of Congdon's for its reopening next spring as a jewelry store. They plan to make the first and second floors of the building handicap accessible and to maintain the look of the building's exterior.

Seaman Scheppes was founded in 1904 and had its 100th anniversary retrospective exhibit at New York's Museum of Art and Design. The exhibit is on display until November at London's Somerset House, Bauer explained. He said he and his partner learned that 47 Main St. might be for sale from their attorney, and that they had been looking for, but were unable to find a rental space the size they desired for their business. The partners, who donate to the Nantucket Historical Association and for nine years have sponunder sored its antiques show dinner for patrons and benefactors, not only wanted a store of their own but also wanted to make it accessible to all the public.

"We believe that is an important thing to do, and there is no place on Main Street accessible to the second floor or even first floors with the high lintels," Bauer said, declining to list the selling price prior to the purchase closing. "We want to enhance the building inside and bring it up to the 21st century, but we want to keep the [outside] characteristic as it is. We want to make it attractive and comfortable the same as we have with our stores in New York and Palm Beach. We want to be sure what we do is done perfectly and the best way it can be done."

Bauer said the new store, as is the current location, will be open from mid-May to mid-October. The partners are in negotiations with the second floor tenants, including the retail store Gypsy in front and the apartment lessee in back, to determine whether they would like to remain in place.

"We don't want to create unnecessary disruptions," he said. "We are very mindful of the local community and obviously are very supportive and understanding."

Despite the new owners' intent to be diligent stewards of 47 Main St., Congdon's pharmacists Audycki and Joahimthal both expressed sadness at leaving a historic drugstore they have worked in since 1984.

"I'm thinking of the Congdon's family of employees we've had over the years. Many have left and come back. They sort of become part of the club, and it has been really nice to have that cohesiveness," said Audycki. "When you've been in one place for such a long time you become attached - you don't think things are going to change.

"It's sad to see the face of Main Street change," she added. "It seems like the two pharmacies go together. I'm proud to be part of the history of Main Street. To be there 23 years says a lot. It's wonderful to have people come in and look at it and want to know the histories of the two pharmacies together. It's been fun to see that."

Joahimthal, who with her colleague had a great time as buyers for Congdon's searching for toys and other items that were unusual, perhaps nostalgic and of quality, will also miss her familiar work environment and the people she served.

"It's just very sad," she said. "We've had very loyal customers for a long time. We definitely have a place in our hearts for them."

Bell said he recognizes that the closing of Congdon's will impact his business, but believes it will all work out and anticipates being able to hire Audycki and Joahimthal on his staff, particularly since David Small, a pharmacist at Island Pharmacy, is leaving next month to become the hospital's pharmacist.

"We'll definitely be able to use them," Bell said of the women. "We will definitely be busier, but we'll be able to take care of the Congdon's clientele, and that will be as seamless as possible. During the winter it will be easy. During the summer we are concerned about the downtown pharmacy being too small. We're working on that. We don't know how many people will choose to go out of town.

"As far as the store closing, it's sad," he continued. "Unfortunately, the economic realities for pharmacies these days makes it tough to survive in a resort situation."

Bell said he was not personally approached about buying the Congdon building along with the business.

"There is no way a pharmacy can support that kind of mortgage," he explained. "When Wally Knott sold [my] building to me in 1981 he knew that without the building the pharmacy wouldn't survive. Anybody new who comes down doesn't recognize the uniqueness of [the two pharmacies]. They confuse the two stores. But it's sad. It is the end of another piece of Main Street and downtown. On the other side, it guarantees the future of

Nantucket Pharmacy." I