Best Local Drug Store: Lincoln Neighborhood Pharmacy

It all started when I went to the Duane Reade to fill a prescription for my wee one. It was a pretty routine antibiotic...nothing fancy, nothing involving gene-splicing or alchemy. They didn't have it. Wouldn't til Monday, and it was Friday. "Maybe you could try the Duane Reade on 7th Avenue?" Like beans I'm gonna trek up the Slope for a bottle of 'cillin. So I says to myself, why not try the place two doors down, at 730 Flatbush? It's near those gangsta-style boutiques blaring ridiculously foul mouthed hip-hop (don't they know there's non-explicit versions of those thumpy thumps? I mean little kids, not Lil' Wayne, pass by there all the time), but that's no reason not to slip inside Lincoln Neighborhood Pharmacy. It always seemed clean and sweet, and the only reason I'd started going to DR at all was because my other shop closed down. I went in, was surprised by the good prices on kid's Advil, then slunk up to the counter and put in my order. I walked out of there with it in four minutes, a smile from the proprietor, and the same exact co-pay. What was I thinking for the last couple years? Duane Reade isn't even owned by New Yorkers any more. "Your City, Your Drug Store" my fat rump. It's part of the Walgreen empire now. Don't let their slick "Apartment 5" and DeLish brands fool you. Duane Reade is a typical corporate money sponge, and while there's reason to go in there for certain goods, why not support a local guy with a family to feed? And if you have recurring prescriptions, it's awful nice not to have to drop it off then return. You can head straight home and into your jammies and never have to head back out in the freezing cold. Lincoln Brown is originally from Jamaica, but he's been here a good long time, plying his trade. There's no reason not to give him a shot. He's professional, knowledgeable, amiable. His staff is sweet. It's never too crowded and they don't have "light rock" blaring from the speakers like at the DR. Not that I don't love a little America or Bread or even Counting Crows now and then. Just not when I have a fever, boils, diarrhea and the bends and quickly need some under the counter drugs.

So here's to Lincoln, and thanks again for the quick service this evening.