Elgin Pharmacy celebrates 40 years of independent service

ELGIN, S.C. (WIS) - An independently owned pharmacy in Elgin is celebrating four decades of service, and later this month, the community is invited to be part of the anniversary celebration.

The Elgin Pharmacy was founded in 1986 by Tony Casey and Freddy Mubarak. Current owners Dustin and Traisha Campfield took over in 2021 and are carrying on the traditions while adding modern services like home delivery and compliance packaging.

“40 years is kind of a big deal, especially for a small-town pharmacy like us,” said Dustin Campfield, co-owner and business manager.

Keeping patients first

Traisha Campfield, co-owner and pharmacist, said the focus remains on patient care.

“We really tried to fill big shoes, but keeping the patient first, I think that’s the biggest thing,” she said. “As technology changes, there are new things that we can do to help patients; we just try to keep advancing for our patients.”

Challenges in rural healthcare

Getting to this milestone has not come without struggles, especially in a rural community.

“We’re blessed to have been here for 40 years; there are lots of pharmacies that are closing down all over the country, unfortunately,” Traisha Campfield said. “It is a struggle with the payment model. There are lots of times that our prescriptions, we don’t even get paid what we paid for the item, so that makes it difficult. It makes it difficult to take care of our staff and to keep providing our patients the level of care that they deserve.”

Hometown feel keeps customers coming back

Pete James, a longtime Elgin resident, is 92 years old and has shopped at the pharmacy since it opened, opting to go local versus a big chain.

“You know, when they say a ‘good neighbor pharmacy’, they’re good neighbors otherwise too, I can attest to that,” James said. “I feel like I’m somebody, I’m not a number, a cog in a machine. They care about me, hey, let’s put it this way, we’re a family.”

Dustin Campfield said that personal touch is what sets independent pharmacies apart.

“That’s the kind of care you’re going to get at an independent pharmacy versus like a big chain,” he said. “That’s what the previous owners did, and that’s what our goal is to continue those relationships and serve the people of Elgin.”

An anniversary celebration is planned at Elgin Pharmacy on June 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring giveaways and activities for kids. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend.

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