At the Juanita Bay Pharmacy, customers are typically greeted by their first name. It has the feel of a classic corner drugstore where the community gathers. And in fact, it has been serving the Kirkland area for 30 years.

Don Hanson first started the pharmacy in 1981 in lower Juanita. He later moved his business to the current location in upper Juanita, where he and his wife, Sally, run it each day. She says, “I think it’s the diversity that we have in the store that has kept us in business for so many years.”

The store consists of a pharmacy, gift shop and post office. “We’ve kept afloat because we have different things that keep us afloat,” says Don. “One day we’ll have lots of medical sales, the next lots of gift sales, the next lots of postal sales.”

Don, who got his pharmacy degree from Washington State University, runs the pharmacy. Before owning his own store he worked as an Army nurse in Vietnam and received two bronze stars.

Don isn’t your regular pharmacist. Not only does he know you by name, but he makes your medicine in a precise formula catered to your body’s needs. This is the art of compounding. Through this approach, Don is able to create medicine for patients who may be allergic or have difficulties swallowing by creating topical gels.

“We can make things that are not available through drug companies, but they’re still prescription. If they (drug companies) can’t just pull something off the shelf and put a label on it, they send the customer to me and we make it from scratch. It’s like the pharmacy from the 1950s,” he says.

He explains how this method is particularly suitable to those sensitive to dosage amounts such as children, animals and those in need of hormone replacement.

Don’s pharmacy also boasts of being narcotic free. Instead, he makes a keto-cam gel, a topical pain medication that does not make people drowsy or dizzy. He enthusiastically explains how the keto-cam gel doesn’t affect the kidneys, liver or stomach like many narcotics do.

Medicine is not the only thing the store does uniquely. Over in the gift-shop area, which Sally manages, you may hear some laughter coming from one of the chuckle buddies (moving plush animals) rolling on the floor greeting each customer. “We believe the best medicine is laughter, it lowers your blood pressure and relieves stress,” says Don.

The gift area is fragrant with the sweet aroma of candles. Sally stocks many unique items from local companies. She has greeting cards and merchandise that you can’t find in many stores.

Don’s WSU Cougar legacy is evident throughout the store, with Cougar merchandise on the end-caps, down the aisles and nestled into corners. (Coincidentally, Sally is a University of Houston Cougar.) To stay fair, they do carry some Husky merchandise as well.

“Notice you have to bow down to it,” says Sally as she points to the very bottom shelf on the aisle – no pun intended as Don attempts to sing the University of Washington’s fight song.

In the back of the store is the post office where Don and Sally’s humor shines through. Above the shelves lies a box with a fake hand hanging out with the words “Our last rude customer” written on the side. The Hansons love humor, especially when others can laugh along with them.

The couple’s involvement and dedication to the pharmacy have obviously contributed to its success. Don says, “With business the way it is you have to stay on top of it for it to stay profitable. All it takes is one mistake or one supervisor messing up and you’re out of business.”

Sally notes that to stay in business for 30 years is a rare accomplishment, not to mention having the same owner.

In a press release from The National Community Pharmacists Association, President Robert Greenwood congratulated the Hansons by saying, “NCPA applauds and appreciates pharmacies like Juanita Bay Pharmacy for their dedication to the practice of community pharmacy.”

Juanita Bay Pharmacy is located at 13520 100th Ave. N.E. For information, call 425-821-4009.

Rachel Zakhary is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.