Boyertown pharmacy will be missed

The community is still working to understand the closing of the local landmark pharmacy Bause’s Super Drug Store last week.

Family-owned businesses can be difficult to maintain, particularly in today’s economy. In an e-mail correspondance with The Pottstown Mercury, Bause’s owner, Jane (Mellot) Beauchamp, stated that as a result of the down economy, it did not make financial sense to remain open.

Bause’s announced with CVS on June 19 that CVS has purchased Bause’s Super Drug Store, effective immediately.

“I’ve been torn for a long time, and it finally seemed to be the time (to sell),” Beauchamp said. “Bause’s Super Drug Store is a Boyertown institution. Deciding to close over the last few months made them some of the hardest ones of my life and also for my daughters.

According to Beauchamp, every employee at Bauses has been hired by CVS, with the exception of herself. She plans to pursue a path that is not pharmacy-oriented.

“I have an immense amount of sadness and even guilt over not being able to keep Bause’s going, but I feel like I also did my best to put the prescription files into the hands of a trusted company and to do my very best to make sure my staff had jobs.”All of Bause’s prescription files have been transferred to CVS Pharmacy, located at 801 E. Philadelphia Ave. Every effort has been made to avoid interruption of pharmacy services.

Kenneth Parsons, BASD board member, “This should remind the community about the importance of buying locally. By supporting the local businesses, you also support the local school district. Money that is spent in the district area usually stays within the district.”

“It is really a shame--there are so many local businesses that are struggling,” said Dana Wagner, Boyertown resident.

Bause’s closure was announced June 18via the company’s website and its Facebook page. The same statement was repeated in all three places:

“With many mixed emotions and much contemplation, Bause’s Super Drug Store will be closing its doors permanently at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 18th, 2012. Bause’s Super Drug Store has been ‘Serving Boyertown Since 1935’ — and the relationship with the local Boyertown community has always been the mainstay of our business.”

Many local residents expressed their surprise and shared their personal stories regarding Bause’s on The Mercury’s Facebook page.

According to an article by The Mercury, Daniel E. Bause Jr. took over the downtown Boyertown pharmacy from his father, Daniel E. Bause Sr., in 1971. The elder Bause started the pharmacy in 1935 as a one-man operation.Robert and Wendy Hallman purchased the business from Daniel Bause Jr.

Beauchamp and her now ex-husband, Larry Mellott, bought it from the Hallmans in October 1999.