Monticello Drugs Opens in New Location

Monticello Drugs, with David K. Leach, Pharm. D. at the helm, will celebrate a Grand Opening at its new location, 679 West Washington Street, next Thursday, Dec. 13.

Approaching 50 years in business, Monticello Drugs started in 1972 when Pharmacist Don Parrott returned to his hometown and bought Smith Drugs. At that time, the proprietor had died, and his wife worked there. So Dr. Parrott and Mrs. Smith opened the pharmacy and began work. Monticello Drugs was then located south of its last location on the Square, where Crazy Daisy’s was most recently. In 1978, Dr. Parrott bought the old Ned & Fred’s Grocery Store and moved Monticello Drugs there. Dr. Parrott said his first day on the job, he filled 14 prescriptions.

At that time, Monticello Drugs was one of three drugs stores in town. Along with Monticello Drugs there was C&G Pharmacy and City Pharmacy. All three were walking distance from one another. Dr. Parrott said people were good to them. He said being from Jasper County helped. He was from Monticello, and his wife, Gail, was from Shady Dale.

Meet David Leach. In 2000, he was invited by his in-laws, Veda and the late Thomas Gordon, to attend an election night party for Tom Tillman. That’s where he met Dr. Parrott. They began talking, and in 2002 Dr. Leach came to work with Dr. Parrott. They worked in a partnership for two years, and on September 1, 2004, Dr. Leach took over on his own.

Dr. Leach is a native of Johnson City, Tenn, and completed his pre-pharmacy requirements at East Tennessee State University. After that, he attended the Southern School of Pharmacy at Mercer in Atlanta. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree in June, 1990. His first job was at Kroger where he worked for about 18 months, then he moved to Wal-Mart, where he was working until he began with Monticello Drugs.

He and his wife, Dana, along with daughters, Morgan and Kelsey, moved to Monticello in 2003, and after a brief time in Turtle Cove built their own house. They continued to work on the drug store, gaining a reputation for filling prescriptions while the customer waits. They also expanded the gift line and began phasing out Radio Shack. Now that they are in their new location, that gift line has been expanded even more. The new location offers plenty of seating for those waiting for prescriptions, or clients may peruse the gift and clothing sections, or pick up whatever over-the-counter medicines, health and beauty aids that he or she needs.

Mrs. Leach is a Real Estate Broker, but that busy career does not keep her from keeping up with clothing, gifts and specialty items at the store. Mrs. Leach hopes everyone will come see the store during the open house next Thursday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The store has expanded from Dr. Parrott and Mrs. Smith to Dr. Leach and 10 employees, one of which has been there nearly 30 years.

Monticello Drugs has a family atmosphere, and Dr. Leach says when you come in Monticello Drugs, “we want you to feel like you’re at home.”