Walk into the pharmacy, the lady behind the cash register greets you by name with a smile. You walk to the counter and the pharmacist hands you your prescription, all ready to go. He asks about your family and you chat awhile. Sounds like a scene out of times past but this is a reality at Gil Drugs. Gil Drugs has been serving the Valparaiso community for the past 55 years, under three generations: Gil Terlicher, Gib Terlicher, and just recently joining the business, Farrah Chinderle.
Farrah, granddaughter to Gil, started off her career at Porter Starke. After 5 years, she was worn out and wanted to move in a different direction. “I never thought about pharmacy, no one in our family aside from Grandpa Gil chose pharmacy as their first career,” talking about her uncle’s 10 years as an accountant before he switched to pharmacy. He was the one who brought up the idea of pharmacy when Farrah was questioning which move to make next. Even though she grew up in the store, helping her grandfather make deliveries, Farrah had never considered pharmacy as a career option until her uncle brought the idea to her attention.
Farrah realized with her experience at Porter Starke, particularly in the field of psychiatric medicines, and her desire to help improve the quality of the lives of her clients, pharmacy was a perfect fit. “We’re all a family here, even people that just walk in the door,” states Farrah. She hopes to bring in a new generation of clientele, along with appealing to a wider demographic as the first female pharmacist on staff.
Farrah joins not only her actual family at the store, but also their adopted work family. Diana Kuehl greets shoppers with a friendly hello and assists customers with their purchases while Christine Hall and Leslee Davies fit women for their lines of custom fit bras and swimwear. The custom fit bras and swimwear are unique to Gil Drugs, being the only business in the area that offers such a service. Made out of quality, long-lasting material, these bras from Amoena, American Breast Care, ClassiQue, and Naturalwear specialize in forms for post-mastectomy patients. They’re also a great option for women who have trouble finding their size or women who want a great fit. Offered in a variety of colors and styles, including current designs such as zebra print, the customers are fit for the bras and swimwear in a comfortable, private fitting area by certified fitters, Christine and Leslee. “These are caring people who know what they’re doing,” states Farrah, talking about the experience these ladies bring through their combined 40 years of service.
“I’m proud of what my family has done,” says Farrah. She goes on to talk about how she gets asked why she didn’t choose a high paying pharmacy job: “Service means more to me than money. I want to help improve the customer’s quality of life.” When asked about the future of Gil Drugs, the only pharmacy out of 4 that used to reside in downtown Valpo, “another 55 years is completely possible.”