Bunch Pharmacy has been in Guntersville since Buddy Bunch opened the doors in November of 1997. The small business has been a staple of the community ever since. It’s no surprise then, that Bunch is this year’s winner of the Best of the Best Reader’s Choice Poll Award for best pharmacy.
Upon graduation from pharmacy school in 1980, Bunch went to work for Harco Drugs, which was in Finlay Plaza at the time. He worked there for 17 years, until Harco Drugs was bought by Rite-Aid. It was then that Bunch decided if he was ever going to go out on his own, that was the time to do it.
Many of his customers followed him to the new building – located at 1800 Henry Street – for which he was extremely grateful.
“We took good care of them and they remembered,” he said. “I have a lot of loyal patients. I was amazed when I opened up over here, it was very humbling.”
In early 1999, Bunch’s niece, Amy Hawk, came on board as a second pharmacist. She has been there ever since.
“I started working when I was 15-years-old for Charlie Griffith at Griffith Pharmacy across from where Walgreens is now. I worked there all through high school and decided during that time I wanted to go to pharmacy school. Amy kind of did the same thing. Now we’re both here having fun every day.”
Bunch is currently one of three pharmacies in the running to take home the McKesson Health Mart Pharmacy of the Year Award. He will travel to Washington, D.C. next month for the awards ceremony. Attendees at the annual McKesson Trade Show will view a video about the pharmacies that are up for the prestigious award and vote on their favorite.
“It’s been an interesting run so far,” Bunch said of the award nomination.
Bunch has been an active member in the Alabama Pharmacy Association over the years, even serving as President, for which he has felt “very fortunate.” He also served on the Alabama State Board, a five-year term; he has been nominated to qualify for a second term, which is somewhat of an unusual honor.
Bunch has also received the Bowl of Hygeia Award, which recognizes one outstanding pharmacist from each state and is a top award in the pharmaceutical industry.
Bunch Pharmacy has been going strong for 24 years and owner Buddy Bunch shows no signs of slowing down at the job he loves to do for the patients he loves to help.
“I've loved pharmacy from when I first started,” he said. “I’ve told people many times and it’s still true today: I’ve never dreaded going to work. I tell kids who have worked for me over the years, ’If you can find an occupation you enjoy doing and you’re decent at it and can make a living at it, you’re very fortunate.'"
Bunch Pharmacy is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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