A family-owned drugstore has left a local community reeling by announcing it will close after 110 years.
Clinkscales Drugs has been serving the small town of Belton, South Carolina, since 1915.
The store, formerly known as Horton’s, has been owned and run by the Clinkscale family since it was established.
But now current owner Gene Clinkscales has decided to retire.
‘I’m getting to a certain age, but I’m ready to step back,’ Clinkscales told WSPA.
‘My wife has the books for the store, so she’d like some time off as well,’ he explained.
‘All of my children are spread out, grown, but have their own jobs and careers, and it’s time to move on.
‘We hate it, and we wish something like it were in town but we’ve been grateful for all these many years.’
Clinkscales Drugs has been serving the small town of Belton, South Carolina since 1915
Clinkscales currently has a 50 percent off sale on most items, and will close its doors for the final time on December 11.
Locals who have been visiting the store for years shared their sadness at the store’s closing – as well as their happy memories over the years.
‘So many memories of shopping there throughout my childhood with my sweet Granny… so sad to see this cornerstone go,’ Heather Lever wrote on Facebook.
‘Clinkscales Drugs has been a staple in Belton all of our lives. It’s one of those businesses that we will always remember,’ another local customer, Randy Bannister, wrote.
As well as shoppers, the staff at Clinkscales were also upset by its closure.
Current owner Gene Clinkscales made the decision to close the store as he retires
The drug store, previously called Horton’s, has been in the same family for almost 110 years
Clinkscales Drugs will close its doors for the final time on December 11
‘My grandparents were customers, my mother and father were customers and then I have been a customer all these years,’ employee Marcelle Jennings told the local news outlet.
‘My grandfather would take me to town,’ Jennings recalled. ‘We would go into the Horton’s, and it was uptown, and I would sit on the little stools and we would have a little snack and a drink. There’s good memories here.’
Linda Sitton, who has worked at the store for 38 years, said the store is like a family.
‘It’s been a rock throughout the community and it’s going to really, really, really be missed by the community and the employees,’ she said.
Customers have been encouraged to stop by to say their goodbyes before the closing date.
‘I just know that our family is so grateful to the folks in this community. They’ve loved this. They supported us,’ Clinkscales said.
‘Just because the store closed doesn’t mean that we won’t be around. We would still love to see all of our folks.’
