Comments on: Cantonment Pharmacy Closes After 41 Years, Millions Of Prescriptions And A Few Marriages

By: peggy martin

peggy martin — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 18:31:48 +0000

Dr. John and Johnny, if you are still reading these, I want you to know that even though the distance became too much you are a very loved family by my family.

By: Karen Truelove

Karen Truelove — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 04:17:02 +0000

I don’t travel to cantonment much and have been BLESSED to have a fairly healthy family. My fiance just informed me today that you were closed. I immediately Googled in hopes that maybe you guys just moved. I was so sad to see not only was i wrong but that you guys have been closed a couple months now. Thank you for the times that you served our family. I didn’t grow up here but walking into your store, no one would of known any different by the way I was treated. I appreciated that and THAT is why when we did need meds filled i would drive the distance. You have no idea JUST how many lives you touched and how many you led to God. Maybe ALL the wonderful comments people have left will give you just a bit of a hint. May God continue to bless your families as this chapter in your lives have closed. You surely blessed your community and will be missed as a business. Hope to see you around town one day!

By: Johnny Reading

Johnny Reading — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 02:33:34 +0000

Thank you all for the wonderful things you said. I think we all had a very emotional last day. I apologize for not giving notice to people, but in business you have so many contractual terms that must be observed and being quiet about the upcoming sale is always one of the most important terms. Over the years everyone has tried to buy us out but we declined. But these days the insurance companies and the big pharmacy manufacturers set all the prices and reimbursements and basically when we got out we had waited several years too long to make any money by selling the business. You cannot believe how much all of our employees miss all of our customers but like previous posters said, the big guys are squeezing out the little guys. I would like to say that over the years Winn Dixie has treated our customers better than the other competition in the area and they treated us fairly in the buyout. It doesnt make it any easier to say goodbye to you though. I know we will continue to see you around because we are not leaving the area…we are Cantonment and North end people. Thank you all.

By: Hate To See This

Hate To See This — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 14:53:51 +0000

I hate to see you all go did you sell Double Barrel Betty to them too? I know these big time corporations is just taking the little guys out of the small towns its sad to see at least it was to Winn Dixie and Not WalMart.

By: Mike Amerson

Mike Amerson — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:16:06 +0000

Johnny, you all have been helping my family and friends for years. It’s sad to see you all have to close the doors, but understandable. The Big Box stores have steadily worked on small businesses like you all’s for years. The Insurance Companies have joined in just to make business owners such as you all close the doors and send the business to others such as Wal-Mart etc.. I hate to see this especially for those that can’t afford insurance or Doctors visits and could always come in and at least get some good advice/medication to make them get better. I can’t tell you how many I seen walk out the door w/o spending as much as a dime for either of the above when it was obvious they had no money to pay with. I hope you at least hang on to a couple of bags of Circus Peanuts for Gene when he finally figures out you’ve had to close. We want to make sure we keep him happy. You all take care and thank you very much for all that your family has done for the community all around the area. Mike Amerson

By: John T. Reading, Sr. and family

John T. Reading, Sr. and family — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 00:07:29 +0000

To all the wonderful, dear friends and people of the North End. We have seen three generations come to us, and wept when we saw so many, too many to name here depart our world for that great new awakening in Paradise, with Jesus. I was always amazed at the number of “believers”; who not only loved the Lord, but the Readings and our wonderful crew. Some people were amazed to see and hear the Readings “testify”, and we even had some who wanted to have us. and them, place our hands on their medicine and pray that God would “Bless their medicine”, and heal them, and he always did! I don’t think you can do that in many stores, but i always thought it is just part of your healing. Financial advisers wanted us to sell Tobacco, Beer, Whiskey and Wine,and even Lottery Tickets. We could have made a lot of money and stayed open with it, but we are opposed to all those thing, but we do not presume to judge you, if you do like them. My motto has always been since I graduated; “If I cannot help you, I certainly won’t do something to hurt you!” May God bless and Keep you all safe and well from now on! John Sr.

By: Jon Hicks

Jon Hicks — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:09:02 +0000

Dr. Reading , you have been a good friend to me and my family . God bless you and your wonderful staff .

By: Brenda Ledbetter

Brenda Ledbetter — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 12:12:54 +0000

Thanks for all you have done for my family and serving the community so well. Sad to see you go.
I will always remember…

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 05:07:27 +0000

I am sorry to see this. Dr. John gave excellent advice over the years, from my childhood on. When I was around 10 yrs old, he checked out my cat, dx’ed pneumonia and prescribed medication, told my dad where & how to give the injections and saved that kitty’s life. He treated the matter with grave importance and me with great kindness. They will be missed.

By: perdido fisherman

perdido fisherman — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 03:26:33 +0000

This is a sad day, another small business squeezed out by corporate America. I will miss thier signature cough syrup the next time i get a cold, it worked every time and saved me some cash, being on a fixed income that was the difference between medicine and dinner. I loved looking at the miniture museum of firearms they had on display while i waited for my perscriptions to be filled and the people always made me feel welcome. I personally won’t go to winn dixie, just as another poster stated, winn dixie could careless about you, they are rude and just want your money. I will be going to Jackson pace on nine mile rd, it will be worth the drive just to get that personal touch that you get from a small pharmacy where the people take the time to speak to you and treat you like a person, not number. Mr. Pace and Mr. Jackson have alot of the same compassion and qualities that existed at Cantonment Pharmacy. I hope all ya’ll can find work without much delay, ya’ll are hard working folks so you will be an assest to who ever hires you.