Best of Ceres
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
VOTED BEST PHARMACY & GIFT STORE
9
Ceres Drug earns the trust of thousands
• One of the last independent drug stores left in the county By JEFF BEN ZI GER Editor of the
Ceres (Calif.) Courier
C
ERES DRUGS IS PERHAPS the rarest business of its kind. Consider that it’s been around for close to a century. It’s always been run by people who’ve been fixtures in the community. It’s one of the last independent drug stores in the county. It’s also earned the respect of tens of thousands of customers over the years, making it a mainstay of downtown Ceres. Located at 2929 Fourth Street in downtown Ceres, the family-run business offers personalized attention and the feel of the hometown pharmacy of yesteryear. As Ruth D. of Ceres said on Yelp. com: “Ceres Drugs is #1 with me. They are exceptionally fast when I bring in a prescription, usually about 15 to 20 minutes and my prescriptions are ready. Plus their household decor is great. Anything that is your home decorative theme you will be able to find it here, from a Christian theme to a country theme. It is a one-stop shopping for all of JEFF BENZIGER/the Courier your needs. Everyone is real helpful and pleasant. The Smernes family is behind the The pharmacists are the best you will find. Defisuccess of Ceres Drug Store – with nitely a five-star in my book.” some other great employees. PicThe drug store operated by the name of Andertured left to right are Derek Smernes, Ted Smernes, Debra Smernes and son’s Drugs in the 1930s, then was purchased by Justin Smernes. Claude McKnight, who also served as mayor. McKnight passed off the business in 1953 to Roger Strange who owned it until 1984. That’s when Ted Smernes and Sheldon Teranishi were the pharmacists. Today Ted is still dispensing medications with the help of his two sons, Derek and Justin, both who followed in their father’s career path of pharmacy. Ted’s wife Debra runs the store and the wide variety of gift items. Ceres Drugs offers gift wrapping with and an assortment of gifts from home decor. The store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. They can be reached at 537-0718. The store is a pay station for several utilities like PG&E and AT&T and is also a Western Union agent.
ALL OF US AT ANDERSON’S
TOWING WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST TOWING COMPANY AGAIN! WE UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE, ED ED. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU CALLING US IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN. “BETTER SERVICE FROM HEAD TO TOW” Anderson’s Tow (209) 538-TOWS www.andersonstow.com