Martin Co., Texas - News: Stanton Drug Store ============================================ Submitted to the Martin County, TXGenWeb by: Michelle White ============================================ STANTON DRUG STORE By Jimmy Patterson Editor MyWestTexas.com STANTON -- Since 1951, Stanton Drug has stood in its original form, an institution in this small town that has survived dust storms, the heat of summer, sticky doorknobs from children whose fingers are laden with funnel cake sugar, and countless wads of dried bubble gum on the bottom of the fountain counter. This place has been through a lot. Trampled heavily through the years and with hardly a repair to show for it, Stanton Drug's floor has holes and the pharmacy is really more a crawl space than a work area. Within the month, though, that will all change. Well ... most everything. "There's not many of these old drug stores left, and you really hate to mess with them too much," said Kyle Kendall, owner and pharmacist since the 1980s. "I may catch some flack with some of the things we do, but the fountain will stay the same." Kendall said the wall unit (on the north side of the drug store) will stay intact and the floor will be changed as will several display fixtures. Kendall is most looking forward to the renovations that will come to his pharmacy area, the tiny hole he's called home for 26 years. That part of the store will double in size. Changes to such a landmark will get people in town talking, and both Kendall and his wife Brenda, who was born and raised here, say the coming renocations are a source for much conversation in town, but both locals and out-of-towners can rest assured the fountain -- and its food -- will stay put. "It's a draw, of course," Kendall said of the fountain. "Everybody over about 40 or 45 had an old drug store like this one when they were kids, and they're used to eating chicken salad sandwiches and things like that." Though the drug store needs an interior facelift, a final decision hasn't been made yet on its countertop, which also dates back to 1951. Mrs. Kendall prefers a new one; Mr. Kendall thinks he'd like to keep the old one, to preserve an original piece of the store. A final decision will probably come based on how the original counter looks when the redesign is complete. One other thing that makes this place, well, unique: the counter is well known for the hundreds of pieces of gum wads that have been stuck on the underside through the years. "Some of those gumwads have to be 50 years old," Mrs. Kendall said. What people come to Stanton Drug for, aside from the atmosphere, are the burgers, which are literally known throughout the southwest. "Rarely does anyone ever eat one of our hamburgers without saying it's the best one they've ever had, or at least the best one they've had in a long time," Kendall said. "Same with our shakes." The Kendalls tell of a time a few years ago when a newspaper did a story on the drug store, which happens, they say, most every time a new reporter comes to the area and stumbles upon the place. This particular story was picked up by the Associated Press and run in several newspapers in the region. Kendall says business at the drug store "picked up for two years." Mrs. Kendall said twice a year a family from Arizona stops in on their way from Arizona to Houston. A second family from Utah has visited, too. Mary Byrne has been an employee at Stanton Drug for 23 years. One day this week she was subbing for the cook at the fountain, who was off. Byrne said the tomatoes are brought in fresh every week from Fort Davis, and the hamburger meat is purchased every day at a local grocery store and never frozen, likely one of the main reasons for their savory taste. Ninety percent of the store's business comes from the pharmacy, and the fountain likely doesn't turn much of a profit, but it is the one thing that draws in both locals and out-of-towners. And it's hard to beat the best cheeseburger you've ever had for just $4, and a chocolate shake for just $2.50. NOTE TO TRADE DAY VISITORS: When Stanton hosts its annual Trade Days this weekend in downtown, for the first time in 11 years the drug store's grill will be closed, although visitors can still come in for a soft drink, air conditioning and to browse. Kendall said with the remodel in progress, cooking for the expected throng of visitors would be difficult. The grill, though, will be open in October when the town hosts its next downtown festival. Renovations on Stanton Drug are expected to be completed in July. ©MyWestTexas.com 2006