Downtown pharmacy remains in Fischer family
| By CHAD SIEVERS KENDALLVILLE — After not being in downtown Kendallville since 1969, Fischer Family Pharmacy returned and has been back in its place on Main Street since 1993. Located in the old J.C. Penney’s building, 112-114 S. Main St., Fischer Family Pharmacy has been in continuous operation in Indiana since the late 1880s, said Sandi Fischer, wife of present owner Craig Fischer, and also owner of Glad Tidings Books ’n’ Gifts. Henry Fischer, the founder of the store, moved to Kendallville to open the drug store in 1913 on Main Street after establishing the first Fischer drug store in Nappanee. Henry’s youngest son, Hubert, took over the store after his father unexpectedly died in 1923. Hubert had been studying to become a doctor, Sandi Fischer said. Hubert affectionately was called “Doc” Fischer by many people in the community because of his knowledge in remedies, she added. Fischer drug store was known not only for its prescription medicines and over-the-counter health products, but also for its wide variety of merchandise. People could walk into the downtown store and get everything from veterinary applications to ukulele strings, she said. By the late 1940s, Craig Fischer, the young nephew of Hubert, began working in the store. “I was an errand boy and a janitor essentially,” Craig Fischer said. Then in high school, he became interested in science and decided to pursue pharmacy. Craig Fischer graduated from Purdue Pharmacy School and served in the Army. In 1960 he returned to Kendallville and purchased the store from Hubert, who continued to help out. Craig Fischer said he wanted to continue the “family tradition” and decided to buy the store. At this time the store was moved from 107 S. Main St. to 120 S. Main St. In 1964, Fischer decided to add a second store in the new Publix Village Square shopping center on Kendallville’s north side. In 1969, he continued to expand when he opened a store in Albion. Later that year Craig Fischer decided to close the downtown Kendallville store and expand the Publix store because the location offered more space. In 1974, Fischer Family Pharmacy continued to grow when it added yet another store, in Avilla in the basement of the Family Medical Clinic. It was this store that began to service the area nursing homes. It was in December 1989 that Fischer Family Pharmacy moved out of the Publix location, Sandi Fischer said. About five months later a new store was opened in Wolcottville where the old Maye’s Pharmacy was located. After nearly 28 years away from the downtown Kendallville area, Fischer Family Pharmacy returned on Jan. 1, 1993, to 112-114 S. Main St. in the former J.C. Penney’s building. Furthermore, the nursing home services were moved to the basement area of the Kendallville store. “This (downtown) was where we started and it was available,” he said about his decision to close the Wolcottville store and move back to the downtown area. Meanwhile, the Fischers opened a gift store, Glad Tidings Books ’n’ Gifts in 1990, at 113 S. Main St. The Fischers are parents of three children, Jamie Witte, Sarah Lannon and Jaren Fischer.
Craig Fischer is a
third-generation downtown Kendallville pharmacist. He
bought the business from his uncle, Hubert
‘‘Doc’’ Fischer, in the 1960s.
Craig’s grandfather, Henry, founded the business in
1913. |
 FISCHER’S BEGINNING — Henry Fischer, pictured right,
established the first Fischer Pharmacy at 107 S. Main St.
in 1902. Here he stands in front of the store. Fischer
Pharmacy is now a third-generation store that has been in
the downtown area for more than 70 years.
AUTHENTIC JEWELRY STORE — Dave Christianson, owner of Christianson Jewelry, Inc., stands beside the authentic cases that were built by Louis Beckman, an original jeweler in the store. The cases hold watches, rings, necklaces and other jewelry items in the store. (News-Sun photo by Dean Orewiler) |
 EARLY MAIN STREET — This early 1900s photo of Kendallville’s Main Street business district looking north from the Rush Street intersection shows Model T Fords competing for space on the road with horses and wagons. (Photo contributed by Russell Frehse)
BALL TEAM SEND-OFF — Kendallville’s city baseball team in the 1920s gets a rousing send-off in front of the dining car and Bowman Garage located on North Main Street at the site of the former V&A Restaurant and Jade Buddha Restaurant. The Ryher Hotel is at the left. Note players in their uniforms in the Model T Fords. (Photo contributed by Russell Frehse) |
 J.C. PENNEY’S — The J.C. Penney’s store in downtown Kendallville was located at 112-114 S. Main St. It’s now where Fischer Family Pharmacy is located. This photo was taken in the 1940s.(Contributed by Russell Frehse)
Old Kendall Hotel (where KeyBank lot is today), North Main Street. |
