LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) — Located along West Market Street between the Russell and Portland neighborhoods, Good Brothers Pharmacy is serving the community in more ways than one.
Inside the pharmacy, customers are likely to find pharmacist Michaela Brooks answering phones, filling prescriptions, or talking with patients.
What many may not realize is that Good Brothers is the area’s first independent pharmacy in more than a century. Before it opened last August, the average resident on Louisville’s west end had to take three TARC bus routes to reach the nearest pharmacy.
“The CVS, the Walgreens, they continue to shut down year after year, month after month,” said Isaiah Jones, co-owner of Good Brothers.
Jones said reaching this milestone took five to six years, with a consistent goal of giving west end residents something they rarely see.
“When I think about family members like my grandmother, who’s 92, 93 years old, she’s never used an independent pharmacy. So for her to see an independent pharmacy for the first time in her life, that’s amazing,” Jones said.
Good Brothers also brings something else uncommon to Louisville: a Black-owned pharmacy.
Jones told WAVE that while the city has had minority-owned pharmacies, he has not found another Black-owned pharmacy listed.
“It means a lot. Representation definitely matters,” said Brooks.
In the nearly six months since opening, the pharmacy has gained dozens of customers and has provided delivery services throughout Louisville and Southern Indiana.
Good Brothers also operates a nonprofit organization called Good Deeds, which hosted a fall festival offering free health screenings. The nonprofit has partnered with other local organizations for additional community events.
Staff members say one of the most rewarding aspects of the work has been building close relationships with customers.
“In a community setting, building that rapport with patients and their families is a bonus,” Brooks said. “It’s a plus for them to come in and see someone who looks just like them when they come into the pharmacy.”
The pharmacy continues to accept new clients and offers free delivery services.
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