Napolitano Pharmacy; located on the corner of Graham and Metropolitan Avenue; has been a neighborhood mainstay for decades. To many residents living in Williamsburg; the store is a Brooklyn landmark. People in this tight-knit community; many of whom were loyal customers from its inception; will be delighted to hear that Tom Napolitano; the original owner of the eponymous pharmacy has returned.
Tom has deep roots in the community. Born on South 4th Street, he was baptized at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and received his early education at St. Francis Prep on North 6th and Bedford Avenue. It was his dream to open a “mom and pop” pharmacy in his beloved childhood neighborhood; and he did so in 1985.
In 1993, Tom underwent life threatening brain surgery. When members from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church found out; they processed down the street near the pharmacy; praying for his safe recovery.
“I was overwhelmed by the love and support from my community,” a visibly moved Tom mentioned. “How can I ever forget the outpouring of prayers and concern during this difficult time in my life. I was touched beyond words and I have a heartfelt sense of obligation to return the support through philanthropic efforts,” said Tom.
An avid supporter of local causes; Tom made donations to educational and charitable organizations; such as an annual contribution to Swinging Sixties Senior Center. He was an elected member of the School Settlement Association and is a proud member of the Italian American Pharmaceutical Association.
According to Tom, “I am here to assure my friends and patrons in this great community that we are coming back stronger than ever! There will be exciting health and wellness events that will take place in the store each month. We are adding some new products such as homeopathic remedies, natural baby products, and healthy snacks. We will also be going green with an extensive line of natural household cleaning products. There will be new gift items too. A one-stop shop for all ages.” Tom added, “Anthony D’Elia and Robert Mattera are among the familiar faces remaining on board.”
Tom is in partnership with City Chemist; a second generation; family owned and operated independent pharmacy with locations in Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO. Their main objective is to offer responsive, competent, and exceptional customer service combined with compassionate care. Like the original Napolitano Pharmacy, City Chemist is a small business interwoven in the fabric of its community.
As part of the new and exciting merger; the store is being renovated to offer customers a bright and beautiful environment. There will be a state of the art pharmacy. “We are going to be a service oriented pharmacy. You can rely on our pharmacists for personalized consultations regarding: drug therapy, drug interactions, supplementation advice particularly for drug depletions, and over the counter medication recommendations. Blood pressure and blood glucose screenings will be offered,” Tom added.
The neighborhood may look forward to the Grand Re-Opening that will take place on Friday, April 8 at 12:00 noon. Join Tom and his team for the ribbon cutting ceremony and exciting new unveiling. There will be healthy refreshments, consultations, and gift bags. There will be a drawing for a basket filled with products for the entire family; the proceeds will benefit the St. Francis of Paola Early Learning Center for children with developmental delays including autism.
“I am thrilled to come home again,” an emotional Tom added. “My heart is here with this community and I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. Customers have so many options today to buy Tylenol but they choose to come here to a store like ours because we make a difference in their lives; we truly care.”
City Chemist, a Napolitano Establishment 1985, hours of operation: Monday thru Friday 9 am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 8 pm, and Sunday 9am to 4 pm. They accept all major prescription plans. Staff members speak Spanish & Italian. Located at: 335 Graham Avenue Brooklyn, New York; Phone: 718-387-0124
The Greenline 