Marlboro Village Pharmacy Puts Family Back into the Business

There are three CVS drug stores in Marlboro Township, a Rite-Aid in between and a Walgreens on the way.

And then there's Stan, Marlboro newest neighborhood pharmacist.

Marlboro Village Pharmacy opened this summer, and owner and pharmacist Stan Hish wants to bring the neighborhood back to the neighborhood pharmacy.

"We're a neighborhood store, we're family-owned, and locally owned. We want to take care of our residents."

Hish, who has been a licensed pharmacist since 1995 and moved to Marlboro in 1998, has been waiting for his chance to bring the township exactly what he believes it needs, a hands-on and personal approach to healthcare.

"I saw the pharmacy being pushed from a professional establishment to just a convenience...but the pharmacy should be a professional environment," Hish said. 

The physical store is an attempt to not overwhelm the customer, with simple brands, clean lines and easily browsed shelves. Hish said the brand names your looking for are there, but so are the homeopathic remedies he personally believes in.

"Weird coming from a pharmacist, right?" Hish said. "Let the nature do the work."

Marlboro Village Pharmacy on School Road, which now occupies a building which stood vacant for four years, offers free pick-up and delivery for customers, including in emergencies after hours.

"Pharmacies are becoming more clinical, more involved in each patient...one-on-one interaction is important, and if the customer is involved in their own health care, it improves their quality of life."

The store gutted and renovated, down to the foundation, by local architects and contractors. Hish said just as he would like his local business to be supported, he's made every effort to do the same.

But that doesn't mean you won't find top-of-the-line skincare on the shelves of Marlboro Village. Italian and French brands typically not found in the country are now in your backyard.

"Everything we sell, we use at home," Hish said. "There isn't anything in here I haven't had a family member test out."

And if you think it will be difficult to switch from the chain to the little guy, it won't. Hish said all it takes is one phone call to him, and he'll get the process done.

Right now the pharmacy accepts most insurance companies, and Hish is working to accept them all.

"We try to make it very easy for the customer."

The Marlboro Village website offers online refills as well as an opportunity to browse some of the inventory.