Hamlin Drug Store has been part of the Downtown community for 107 years, the oldest drug store in Raleigh, and the oldest African-American owned pharmacy in North Carolina.  

People's Drug Store, 1907It all started in 1904, when James Edward Hamlin opened People’s Drug Store, which became Hamlin Drug company in 1907.  John Mitchell Johnson and his partner, Clarence Coolidge, purchased the store from the remaining Hamlin heirs in 1957 from the granddaughter of the original owner.  Dr. Johnson became the sole owner when his partner died 21 years ago.

Hamlin Drug store moved to its current location (126 East Hargett Street), in the heart of the Black commerce district in 1964, and endured the mass exodus of Downtown businesses, what Dr. Johnson calls the “tumult of the mid 60s”, as new malls were built in the suburbs.  But Dr. Johnson,  a self-described “congenial urban dweller” decided to stay Downtown, confident that "the urban dweller would resurface".  It was a long wait, but today, the 81 year old Dr. Johnson says he is happy to see the arrival of new residents, adding to what he says is a good mix of people.