The Natick Pharmacy
The Natick Pharmacy was located at the intersection of Speen Street and Route 9, in a group of stores which also included the Coach House Candy, Kinney Shoes (now called Pet World) and a Bickford’s Pancake House. (now the site of Pizza Hut).
A trip to the pharmacy always included a visit to the toy department downstairs, where the owner, Mr Finklestein used to keep close watch on whatever the neighborhood kids were up to. Occasionally, someone would tease him and he’d start yelling, chasing the perpetrators up the stairs and out the doors.
On the main floor of the Pharmacy, was a soda fountain, where we would buy creme soda with vanilla shakes. On a Sunday, the routine was usually to park in the back of the Pharmacy to buy the Sunday newspaper, then walk across Speen St. to Dunkin Donuts for a dozen honey dipped. This black and white photo may be the only one in existence, of this great place. 
In the rear of this building, (south, toward Hartford St.) wasn’t there located the original site of the Tropic Isle Aquarium (which moved to Framingham in the building where the dive shop and RockNMania were, next to Walter Dyer is Leather)?
Thank you so much for the pictures. At 41 years old, I’m getting all weepy-eyed seeing these wonderful old places again.
Comment by Nostalgio | October 10, 2007
I think you’re right about the Tropic Isle, although I don’t remember going inside to see it, there might have been a sign on the building. Did they have a section of the Pharmacy?
Comment by Dave | October 10, 2007
I remember this place well. My best friend and I used to have our annual end of school (Brown School) lunch at the soda fountain. All the neighborhood kids called the place “Finks” - and we were all scared to death of Mr. Finkelstein. On the top floor was Kenneth’s Hair Styling - where we got our pixie cuts for the summer! What memories!
Comment by Jackie | May 9, 2008