The Oroville Pharmacy closed its doors December 31st after being a part of Main Street for 48 years. The owner, Dick Larsen, faithfully served and watched as our town changed over the years. 

 

In the beginning, the pharmacy had seating and a soda fountain where students from the high school would gather after school to hang out. On Sundays, while the Blue Law was still intact, community members would sit and have good old-fashioned conversation.

 

“There used to be a lot more traffic in Oroville,” Dick reminisced. When he was a young adult, Oroville had three live music venues and two all-night cafes, similar to a lot of big cities. He recalled how he and his friends used to not be able to decide what to do, and would often face what he called “decision-paralysis.” “People say there's nothing to do in Oroville but you can swim, fish, or hike,” he explained. 

 

As Dick watched Main Street grow and change, he also had to evolve along with it. “I never thought I’d have a computer here,” he recalled. But after seeing a demonstration of one, he decided that it would be much simpler than a typewriter. The business grew and changed with time but one thing that always remained constant was the spirit of community. At the front counter, there was always a jar of old-fashioned candy from some of the same vendors that Dick had partnerships with for 35 years. 

 

This past month, as community members walked by and saw the flyer on the door detailing the close, almost all of them felt the need to come inside and thank Dick for his service to the community. “The pharmacy was the first place I ever walked into,” employee Stephanie Hart recalled. After moving to the city for a short while, she came back and fell in love with our little town all over again. Working alongside Dick and being able to chat with the community members that passed through the doors was Stephanie’s favorite part of her job. 

 

As the doors closed for the last time, it was a bittersweet ending to such an important part of Oroville’s Main Street. The building has been purchased by Lakeside Pharmacy, and while the doors have closed on one chapter, another new chapter is just beginning in Oroville and for Dick.

 

Looking forward, Dick says he hopes that Main Street can continue to grow, and although Oroville will change he says “we’ll still have apple trees and lakes and all of the natural beauty around us.” Dick is excited to travel and get some well deserved vacation time, and although the blue and white sign out front will be missed, the entire community wishes him best of luck.