Pharmacist Peter Miles says he’s received a warm welcome at his new drug store which has been open three months in downtown Hilton. He says he’s met wonderful people who have lots of good things to say about bringing back a village landmark. Hilton Family Pharmacy offers a coffee bar which has also been well received. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Peter Miles has always wanted to be a pharmacist, not a coffee aficionado. But some caffeine-crazed friends got Miles’ interests percolating enough to put a coffee bar in the new Hilton Family Pharmacy.

Miles, who lives in North Greece with his wife, Janel, and two children, Carter (1) and Alexa (4), opened a new pharmacy on the corner of Main Street and Lake Avenue in May. When the family started talking seriously about opening their own business, back in November 2005, the first half dozen people they spoke to suggested that they think about putting a coffee shop in the village.

The move hasn’t disappointed him yet.

“It all fit in the plans,” Miles said. The plans have led to a spacious and bright store with a coffee bar on one side, and a walk-up pharmacy counter on the other. There is room for personal consultations toward the front of the store and a display of medical supplies from wheelchairs to walkers in the back corner. In between, the store has an interesting assortment of collectibles including Yankee Candle and Fenton Glass. The eastside wall is covered with an assortment of half-price greeting and holiday cards and the westside of the store draws the attention of many young shoppers. Webkinz®, the post-Beanie Baby craze, sit side by side above the pharmacy counter.

People who have come in have been really positive and pleased to see this space become a pharmacy again,” said Miles.

Miles hopes that coffee and other attractions will bring people into the store. Once they are there, he hopes the personal service they receive in the pharmacy will keep them coming back.
Miles comes from a family of pharmacists. His father, James, owns a family pharmacy in Medina. His brother, Joseph, owns a family pharmacy in Oakfield. His wife and his sister-in-law are both pharmacists. When Miles moved to Rochester in 1994, he and Janel both worked at Wegmans as pharmacists. Janel still works there part time.

“I’ve wanted to be a pharmacist since the age of four,” said Miles. “I wanted to do what my dad did for people even though I didn’t understand what the work was behind the counter.”

When he first became a pharmacist in 1994 the climate wasn’t right for community pharmacists. However, since then, Miles said enough has changed for community pharmacies to again be successful.

“I think people want more personal service,” said Miles. “They’re going to see me. They’re not going to see technicians being given messages to take to the customer.”

And Miles plans on having customers see him outside of the store as well. Miles said he will inject himself into the community by supporting the school and other community ventures.

“I am not just going to show up, do my 40 hours and go home,” said Miles. The store, which currently employs nine people, is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the pharmacy opening at 9 a.m. On Saturday the store is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the pharmacy again opening at 9 a.m.

Note: As part of their official grand opening celebration, customers are encouraged to stop by between now and September 8 to enter a free raffle with several prizes. The pharmacy’s phone number is 392-7979.

August 26, 2007