Central Drug Store, 2315 Broad Street, circa 1955

Harrison 4.JPG

Title

Central Drug Store, 2315 Broad Street, circa 1955

Subject

Drugstores
Soda fountains

Description

Central Drug store's soda fountain shown in this photo was a very popular meeting place for university students who shopped downtown.

Central Drug Store on Broad Street (now University Boulevard) was a landmark. In 1941, 16 years after receiving an Auburn University pharmacy degree, James Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth, were able to open the first family-owned store, Central Drug Store in Tuscaloosa.

When his son, Jim Jr., graduated from pharmacy school in 1955, the elder Harrison acquired a second store, Druid Drug, on the campus of the University of Alabama that Jim Jr. and his brother, Ben, managed. Druid Drug was the favorite coffee hangout of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and his staff.

Later more drugstores were added and the Harco Drug Company was formed. The company was sold to Rite Aid in 1997.

This original location of Central Drug on University Blvd. is still associated with the Harrison family and currently houses Harrison Galleries (2013).

Source

Personal Collection of Jim Harrison III

Date

Circa 1955

Contributor

Brenda Harris (Description)

Type

Photograph

Identifier

1046

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)

Original Format

Photograph

Physical Dimensions

8 inches x 10 inches