With the closure of Juanita Bay Pharmacy, Kirkland is not just losing its only independent pharmacy but a level of service that many modern health providers can’t replicate.

The owners, Don and Sally Hanson, recently announced they are closing the store after failing to find a new owner. Although they wished to keep the store open, they are eager to do things that running a small business has prevented over the years, such as traveling.

“I believe we have a passion and the store in serving the community has been our passion,” Sally Hanson said, noting it was a difficult decision for them to make. “It’s time for us to be able to enjoy our sunset years.”

Don Hanson first opened Juanita Bay Pharmacy 1981 in lower Juanita out of a desire to have better contact with the patients he served. A former Army nurse, who served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division and received two bronze stars, he was working at Veteran Affairs in Seattle, where he noticed a disconnect between himself and the patients he worked with. Most of their interactions involved handing them prescription drugs through a glass window without any further conversation about the drug. His own pharmacy, he hoped, would allow him to have one-on-one discussions with patients about the prescription, how and when to use them.

During the 34 years since then, Don Hanson has accomplished his original goal many times over.

“At that time it was really quiet,” he said. “Now, I might interact with 100 people a day.”

A Washington State University graduate, Don Hanson moved to Kirkland after graduating in 1974. A proud Cougar – Sally is also a Cougar, from the University of Houston – the pharmacy section of the store is adorned with WSU memorabilia – albeit they sell Husky items in the gift store, as well.

Don chose the name because he said he could look down at Juanita Bay from the store’s original location. Originally, the pharmacy focused on prescriptions and offered monthly health seminars, which Don said helped build his customer base. When Don married Sally in 1985, she brought in several ideas for the pharmacy. They obtained a post office contract in 1989, allowing them to handle all but international shipping, added a gift-shop selling specialized cards, candles and other merchandise, and began selling medical equipment, such as knee scooters, crutches, and wound care kits not available in chain stores. In 1993, they moved from lower Juanita to 100th Avenue where they have remained ever since.

For years the two have been involved in local organizations, such as Kirkland Kiwanis, Soroptimists, Kirkland Woman’s Club and served on several committees for the city of Kirkland.

As an independent pharmacist, Don made all of his prescriptions from scratch by compounding the different chemicals himself. The process takes much longer to fill prescriptions, he said, sometimes an hour as opposed to a few minutes for regular drugs, but it allowed him create custom prescriptions for patients who otherwise could not use them. The drugs are also natural, as Don is adamant about not using narcotics or addictive substances.

As part of his relationship with patients, Don said he has always placed an emphasis on explaining the drug in detail.

“We were giving completely detailed information well before it became mandatory,” he said. “We understand people utilize their medicine better if it’s explained to them… I can speak anywhere from one minute to 30 minutes on how to use a dose dispenser or how it might interfere with other things they’re on.”

Don’s willingness to work with individual patients when compounding prescriptions proved indispensable for naturopathic physicians like Karen Ball, who has been working with him since 2004. Ball said she treats patients suffering from severe allergies and autoimmune diseases and their health conditions make it impossible for them to take standard prescriptions from other pharmacies.

“He has been an absolute magician in making them really work for people,” she said. “He gave a cut above in terms of being able to really create a medication that was going to work for someone with limitations as a result of their health status. He was willing to really work with you and create what was needed for the patient.”

With the pharmacy’s impending closure, Ball said she will have to search for a new pharmacist. She is trying to find one who is willing to work as closely with patients as Don.

“He also was willing to help [patients] on how to utilize their health insurance to the greatest benefit,” she said. “Many pharmacies are not willing to take the time. He provided a level of service that was unparalleled. It means I won’t be able to know who to call in order to get the kind of prescriptions he was making for me. It’s a huge loss.”

Don and Sally said their customers have expressed the same consternation.

“They’re heartbroken,” Don said. “They don’t know what they’re going to do.”

“Most of them are appreciative of what we’ve done for as long as we’ve done it,” Sally said.

Though the store is closing, they said they won’t be fully retired quite yet. Don still plans to work part-time at other stores, and Sally will continue to write as a freelance automotive journalist.

“People will still see my face here and there,” Don said.