Potter Drug, which opened on the west side of Springfield last year, is a throwback to when people knew and could talk to the pharmacist who owned the local drugstore.
Even its logo is “an homage to what a pharmacy was 20 to 30 years ago as far as service,” said Tim Gleason, Potter Drug pharmacist, owner and logo designer.
Currently the only family-owned pharmacy in Springfield, Potter Drug is busy.
“We’ve had over 2,000 people switch to us in the first year, so that’s a definite sign that we’re doing something right, and there is a demand for what we offer,” said Gleason. “The support from the Springfield community has been incredible. We’ve met so many great people who have told us how much they appreciate our caring and personal attention. It’s really rewarding to build those relationships.”
Potter Drug is located at 3251 Ginger Creek Drive on the south end of a newer strip mall and caters to those who want a personal relationship with their pharmacy. “Most of the people who’ve switched to us said they were tired of the service they were getting from a big chain pharmacy or feeling like a number,” Gleason said.
He credits Potter’s quick growth in part to word-of-mouth marketing. “Someone will have a good experience and then tell their friends and family.”
Gleason said customers appreciate Potter’s free delivery service, especially those with mobility issues. A drive-through window is convenient for customers on the go. Others just appreciate the ability to talk to someone at a pharmacy who answers the phone.
“Our niche is to provide great service and make it easy for people to get prescriptions from us,” said Gleason. He added that Potter Drug uses the same drug wholesaler as big pharmacy chains and so has the same access to medicines. “If we don’t have something in stock, we can usually get it the next day.”
Potter Drug first opened in Petersburg in 1977. Gleason, who earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2011, bought the business in 2015, expanded with a Rochester location three years later and added the Springfield store in August 2024. In addition to prescription drugs, the stores sell allergy, cough and cold medicines and basic over-the-counter remedies. The Springfield and Petersburg locations also offer a selection of gifts, greeting cards, candles, personal care items and toys.
“Our front-end drug business is our bread and butter, but we have a nice selection of gifts and toys if people are looking for something quick to get for somebody,” said Gleason.
Vaccines are also administered on a walk-in basis, including flu (regular and high dose), COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, shingles, pneumonia and Tdap or tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine.
The closures of several Springfield CVS and Walgreens pharmacies in the last few years, and more recently County Market pharmacies, have had a disruptive impact on customers.
“County Market provided great service and some of their customers didn’t want to switch to a big chain,” said Gleason. “We’re grateful and thankful to the ones who came to us for the same level of service as County Market provided.”
A large sign outside Potter Drug offers assistance to former County Market pharmacy customers, and Gleason hired a former County Market pharmacy technician. “That has really helped with the transition, for their customers to see a familiar face or hear a familiar voice on the phone at our store.” Other signs on Potter Drug’s exterior glass walls target Springfield School District 186 employees, advertising that Potter now accepts SmithRX, the district’s pharmacy benefit manager.
Gleason said the biggest challenges facing Potter Drug – and all pharmacies – right now are rising drug costs, insurance restrictions and the amount of red tape that can slow things down.
“The difference is, we work really hard to fight through that red tape for our patients, whether that’s finding a cheaper alternative, helping with prior authorization or just making sure they don’t get lost in the process,” he said.
With 14 employees at the three Potter Drug locations, which are all “busier than ever,” Gleason said he has his hands full and no immediate plans to expand further. He’s proud of the distinction of owning Springfield’s only hometown, independent drugstore.
Lynn Whalen has a background in broadcast journalism and higher education public relations, most recently as chief communications officer at Lincoln Land Community College.
This article appears in SBJ September 2025.