Chapman Drug Company
Visit Chapman Drug Company for a trusted, community-focused healthcare experience. Located in the heart of Hapeville, Georgia, we've been serving the local community with exceptional care since 1921.
Chapman’s Drug Store is a 100 year old pharmacy in Hapeville, Georgia. It is a full service pharmacy offering services such as delivery, medication management, medication synchronization, vaccinations, vitamins, over-the-counter medications, and pet medications. You may also enjoy a treat from the original soda fountain now serving Icy Chicks.
In the summer of 1921, Raburn Rufus Chapman, Sr., “left the farm” (as he liked to say) at the age of 19. He had convinced his father, J.W. Chapman and his uncle, A.H. “Gus” Chapman to purchase the existing “Citizen’s Pharmacy”. It was promptly renamed Chapman Drug Company and Dr. Arnall was hired to be the druggist. Raburn would apprentice under Dr. Arnall for over 5 years until he passed the state’s apothecary exam.
Dr. C.H. Pinson, MD, operated his family medical practice in an area adjacent to the prescription room in what is now the ladies restroom. The store featured a soda fountain, curb service, free delivery (via bicycle or motorcycle), charge accounts, gasoline and oil, and, in addition to human prescription and over-the-counter medicines and sundries, it carried various preparations for cows, hogs and chickens.
The business struggled through “The Great Depression” and in 1932 was incorporated as Chapman Drug Company. The original stockholders were the same three original owners with the addition of K.C. “King” Timmons.
King Timmons later opened a drug store in College Park, Georgia named Timmons’ and Chapman’s Drug Company. After some years, Timmons sold his stock in Chapman Drug Company and purchased Chapman’s interest in the store in College Park in order to form his own company, Timmons’ Pharmacy.
Over the years Chapman’s has employed hundreds of local teenagers to operate the soda fountain or to make deliveries. Eight of those “soda jerks” went on to become pharmacists. One fellow started working at the fount as a teenager and continued working for the store for over 40 years. In fact, many people identified him and Chapman Drug as “one”. His name was Coy Wynn, affectionately known as “Coy Wynn, The Student’s Friend”. Another, Russell Foster, delivered for Chapmans for almost 30 years. Several of our current employees have been with us for over 15 years.
Upon the passing of two of the original owners, J.W. and A.H. Chapman, the number of stockholders grew to seven people. For a time, Donald’s brother, Raburn Jr., also a pharmacist, worked at the store and was part owner as well. Over the next forty years, all of the outstanding stock was purchased, bit-by-bit. In 1986, for the first time in it’s 65 year history, 100% of the stock came under one owner, Donald L. Chapman, son of Raburn Sr. In 2001, Derek Chapman and his wife, Marcia, also a pharmacist, began to take over the day to day operations of the pharmacy and to purchase the business from Derek’s father, Donald.
The Chapman Family has been blessed to have five pharmacists in the family, 4 generations of owners, 3 generations of pharmacist owners, and 100 years of service to our profession and community. We would not be here but for the patronage of generations of local families and for the hundreds of employees who supported our business. We look forward to the next 100 years.
Pictured Below: Left: R.R. Chapman, Sr.,RPh (Founder), Right: Donald Chapman, RPh (Retired)
Visit Chapman Drug Company for a trusted, community-focused healthcare experience. Located in the heart of Hapeville, Georgia, we've been serving the local community with exceptional care since 1921.
