Customers of Tolson Drug Store will soon be greeted by a new face behind the pharmacy counter. Cameron Schulte, the son of councilman Shawn Schulte and wife Angie and a 2007 graduate of Jefferson City High School, is in the official process of purchasing the downtown business from David and LeeAnn Stribling. Schulte recently completed pharmacy school at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, and is scheduled to take his boards this summer. Once he's cleared by the state, he will take over the long-standing pharmacy located at 226 E. High St.
"It is nice to know I can come back to Jefferson City and do what I want," Schulte noted after explaining he preferred the idea of working in an independent pharmacy.
Knowing the Striblings through church activities, Schulte said he and David had discussed the idea throughout Schulte's college years. The timing was right, as David hopes to retire once Schulte passes his boards in the coming weeks.
In the transition, the entrepreneur said he's most excited to put into practice all he's been learning, and to interact with patients.
Although there won't be a lot of changes right away, Schulte said he is toying with the idea of using the front-end as a small marketplace.
"We would like to see if people would utilize it," he noted. "It is pretty open-ended at this point."
Schulte did say he hopes to keep the lunch options and even possibly expand the offerings. A new popcorn machine is on its way as well.
The name will remain Tolson Drug Store for now, and will always in some way incorporate the Tolson name, the new owner noted. "There is a lot of history there," he said.
Two loft apartments above the store will be renovated, with Schulte residing in one.
Tolson was started in the late 1800s and has been a staple in Jefferson City. The Striblings purchased the business in 1972, turning it into the downtown gem that it is today.
David is excited about retirement, as he's "been at this for a long time," he said.
The longtime drug store owner said he hopes the downtown will continue to grow, and he is confident Schulte will do great things to turn the location into a more rounded pharmacy.