Old-Fashioned Charm With Modern Convenience

BY JOHN DESANTIS

Located at the corner of West Main and Goode streets in downtown Houma, Peoples Drug Store has endured not only as a business meeting a critical need, but a landmark imbedded with that of the town’s 20th Century history.

Susan Brunet, who with her husband Andre owns and operates the store, says that it all comes down to more than business.

Founded in 1939, the store boasts that its pharmacists have 100 years of combined pharmaceutical experience. Diagonally across West Main Street from the Terrebonne Parish courthouse, Peoples is at a major Houma crossroad.

George Picou, an entrepreneur who became well known in later years for his contributions to charity and community, had taken over the store from James Guidry, for whom he had worked for many years, around 1970. Brunet said she is not certain of dates, but knew that at one time the business was called “Theriot’s.”

Picou was dedicated to the profession, working in sales positions while attending the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where he earned a degree in pharmacology.

Susan Brunet worked for her father, learning how to operate the business, which she began to do around 2006, two years before his death.

“I grew up in the store,” explained Brunet, a graduate of ULM.

Recognizing — like other operators of smaller local pharmacies — that innovation is needed to serve customers at the level they expect while competing against bigger chain stores, the Brunet’s are using various forms of new technology.

They have begun to offer Peoples Power Packs, special packaging that eliminates the need for pill bottles, and ScripTalk, which allows people to hear their medication information from the label.

ScripTalk labels are attached to a prescription bottle and programmed with all of the printed label information. At home, the patient places the medication container on a prescription reader unit and hears the label read aloud with a press of a button. A ScripTalk app can be substituted as a prescription reader for patients with smart phones.

Peoples has specialized, its owners say, in serving nursing home residents for over 40 years. They also deliver.

Although many people know Peoples as their solution to prescription needs, it also offers something special beyond medicines, that makes for a sweet difference.

The store has a selection of “old time” candy like coconut bars and Wacky Wafers, Brunet said.

Brunet and her husband take pride in offerings like the special candies being a link to good things of the past, as they move forward with the use of modern technology.

“Our friendly staff will treat you like family,” Brunet’s introduction to the store states. “Whether it’s prescription medications or over the counter products, we are here to answer any and all of your questions.”•