OAK PARK, Ill. (CBS) — An independently-owned pharmacy in Oak Park will soon be closing its doors — but the owner wants to take care of his employees and customers, some of whom are four-legged, before the lights are turned out for good.
Segreti Pharmacy has held court for decades at the corner of Roosevelt Road and Lombard Avenue, near the southeasternmost corner of Oak Park. Owner Kenneth Bertini, 77, can still be found behind the counter there for now.
But Bertini said the pharmacy is closing — both because the building that houses it is for sale and his lease is up, and also because of his age.
“It's time for me to slow down and not work 50 hours a week,” Bertini said.
Segreti is located within a medical center that also houses a podiatrist, acupuncturist, chiropractor, and massage therapist. The pharmacy opened in 1963 — more than 60 years ago — and Bertini has owned it for the last 40.
“I've changed the look of the store, the projection of the store, the direction of the store at least four times since '85, and I'm a little bit too tired to change it another time,” he said.
Bertini said Segreti one of the last remaining pharmacies in the area that compounds drugs for people and pets. He said about 40% of his business is devoted to pet prescriptions.
Lupe Perez and her dog, Rosita, are his loyal customers.
“Now that they're closing, she's not going to be happy,” Perez said, “, and the new location is a little further from us because this is walking distance, so it's going to be a challenge, but I'll drive her over there.”
Indeed, Bertini's customers and longtime staff are not being left to fend for themselves. The new location to which Perez was referring is not another location for Segreti, but Sear's Pharmacy at 1003 Madison St. in Oak Park — with which Bertini made a deal to hire his team and expand into pet prescriptions.
“I think it just shows you what kind of guy he is, you know?” said pharmacy technician Maria Valentine. “He puts others before he puts himself. He thinks about others before, and he wanted to leave knowing that all of us are going to be OK.”
Bertini said his doors will officially close this Saturday at 2 p.m. The next day will be a transition day for the staff.
On Monday everything will be transferred over to Sear's Pharmacy.