Recall a time when apothecaries were the heart of the community. Now step inside C.O. Bigelow Chemists. This isn’t just a pharmacy. It’s a living museum of American pharmaceutical history.
C.O. Bigelow Chemists stands as the oldest apothecary in the United States. It began in 1838 as The Village Apothecary Shop. Dr. Galen Hunter, a Vermont physician, founded it in Greenwich Village.
The story of C.O. Bigelow Chemists involves more than just medicine. Clarence Otis Bigelow, an employee, bought the store in 1880. He renamed it C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries. The store then moved to its current location in 1902.
During the Great Depression, William B. Ginsberg, an immigrant, purchased the store. The Ginsberg family has owned and operated C.O. Bigelow Chemists since 1939. Ian Ginsberg runs it today. His son Alec, a fourth-generation pharmacist, is the Chief Operating Officer.
Imagine a time when C.O. Bigelow was one of the few places with light during blackouts. During the blackouts of 1965 and 1977, C.O. Bigelow Chemists stayed open. Its gas lamps provided enough light. It was the only pharmacy open between Maine and the Carolinas.
C.O. Bigelow Chemists has served many famous customers. Thomas Edison, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Mark Twain were all patrons. Legend says Edison used Bigelow’s balm for burns. Twain even lived around the corner.
The store has a long history of unique window displays. During World War II, C.O. Bigelow Chemists created the first Penicillin window display in the U.S. It remained lit during blackout drills.
Originally, C.O. Bigelow Chemists had a soda fountain and lunch counter. It was a social hub for New York creatives. The lunch counter roasted a fresh turkey every day. It squeezed around 50,000 oranges each year. The soda fountain closed in 1984.
C.O. Bigelow Chemists continues to operate in the 21st century. It offers a unique experience. The store provides personalized attention and custom formulas. Many products were formulated in the 1800s. They still create custom prescriptions.
The current owner, Ian Ginsberg, has brought C.O. Bigelow to a new level. He maintains the store’s old-world charm. He also scours the globe for unique beauty and personal care products.
Even a store cat became famous. Mr. Bigelow, the store’s resident cat for 15 years, had a New York Times obituary. He even inspired a short story.
C.O. Bigelow Chemists remains open every day. Even during Hurricane Sandy and the pandemic, it provided essential care to the community. It is more than a pharmacy. It’s a piece of New York history. It is a testament to tradition and service.