Perhaps the first drug store in Glendale is the one pictured in a very early photograph of 11 Village Square with the words “Drug Store” painted on one side and “William Lehrer & Co.” painted on the other. William Lehrer operated a dry goods store there and apparently a drug store as well. Painted on are the words, “drugs, patent medicines, varnish, sponges, window glass, putty and glue.” A young Herman Igler may have worked for a time in this drug store. Herman had grown up in the Village, his parents having moved here shortly after the Civil War.

Another early drug store was the Reakirt Drug Store. It was located in the corner section of the Willis – Dooley Block now known as 21 Village Square. Many patent medicines as well as drugs were available for sale. There was a soda fountain with sarsparilla, nectar, chocolate and vanilla flavorings for sale. Candy could also be purchased, however taffy and chocolates were only available in cold weather. Mr. Reakirt sold his store to Mr. Eugene Sayres.

Herman Igler had just returned home after attending a pharmaceutical college and was eager to own his own drug store. He is said to have worked as a delivery boy in Mr. Sayres store before attending college. According to one source, Mr. Sayre would not sell his business so Mr. Igler built a shop across the street and opened Igler’s Drug Store. His sister, Katie, went into business with him. The store was “operated with the latest methods and in excellent taste.” Miss Katie made ice-cream known for its high quality. She also introduced small tables “for customers whose dimensions did not permit them to sit with ease on the stools at the soda fountain.”

Herman added a second story to the building to use as living quarters for his family. This building is now 5 Village Square. Eventually Mr. Sayres did sell his business to Mr. Igler in 1904. In 1923, he purchased the entire Willis-Dooley Block building. His original store was leased to Mr. William Shepherd who operated a notions shop there for many years. He also built a store in Sharonville which is son, Fred managed. Fred had recently graduated from Pharmacy College. He also had stores in Hartwell and Roselawn. Herman died in 1936.

In 1945 Fred remodeled the store in Glendale. He added fluorescent lights and air conditioning which was quite rare for the times. Gene Mooney recalls that when he was a student at the College of Pharmacy, Igler’s was described in pharmacy textbooks as one of the most progressive and modern pharmacies in the country. For example, it was one of the first drug stores to have an opening so that customers could see the pharmacist and talk with him. It was in this time period that the term “Pharmacy” became the preferred term rather than “Drug Store.” The prescription department filled prescriptions from all over Cincinnati but Dr. Allen, Dr. Hannah and Dr. Fasoldt were the primary physicians to use this service. Gene Mooney served as a pharmacist from 1948-1957.

After Fred Igler’s death, John and Stanley Littmmer and Louis Schwallie owned the business. In 1972, the name was changed to Gehring Pharmacy when James Gehring bought it. Gehring Pharmacy was sold to William Betz and Robert Steinman in 1979. John Piepmeier purchased the business and moved it to 210 East Sharon Avenue.

During the era of 1930s – 1992, Igler/Gehring Pharmacy was not the only one. Frank Hotze opened a pharmacy in the building at 3 Village Square but it did not last very long. Also during this time, Ferd Weisbrodt operated a pharmacy at 9 West Sharon Avenue at the corner of Sharon and Congress Avenues. In 1958, he sold the business to James Kasten. Mr. Latta was one of the pharmacists and there was a doctor’s office upstairs. This pharmacy was closed in 1992 when the Kastens retired.

(Source: Herb Wengler, “The Drug Store/Pharmacies of Glendale”, 2005, Mooney, Joan, 21 Village Square, Monday Class Paper, Mrs. Chilton Thomson, Letter written in 1995, Conversations with Gene Mooney, 2014).