Photo by Ron Burkett.
Deana Carroll, Meagan Carroll Reynolds and Greg Carroll.
From their mission statement to the customer reviews, one word that consistently describes Carroll Pharmacy in Clay and Trussville is caring.
Pharmacists Greg Carroll, Deana Carroll and Meagan Carroll Reynolds lead the family-owned and operated business. They take pride in continuing the core values they learned from their parents’ independently owned businesses: keeping God first, hard work, service and loving people.
“Taking care of people, serving the public and giving back to a community that serves you is what we like doing,” said Deana Carroll, whose father owned a service station in Wetumpka. Greg Carroll grew up in a restaurant family, but learned in college that the health care field was where he was supposed to be.
Carroll Pharmacy serves its customers in a variety of ways. In addition to filling traditional pharmaceutical prescriptions, the family of pharmacists is one of the few independent pharmacies in central Alabama providing prescription compounding for personalized, nutritional and hormone counseling and community education.
“We provide an option that otherwise wouldn’t be available if we weren’t here,” Greg Carroll said. “I like to think of us compounding pharmacists as problem solvers for our physicians and patients.”
Part of that problem-solving approach also includes the stores’ inclusion of essential oils and other recommendations of holistic remedies. The location also offers synchronized refills, online refills, prescription delivery and drive-through service.
That personal service is why the Carrolls expanded from their Clay location, established in 1995, to Trussville in 2010. Greg Carroll grew up on Meadow Lane down the street from Don and Betty Haisten, who owned Haisten Rexall Drugs on North Chalkville Road since 1979. He considers Don Haisten a mentor through his early career as a pharmacist. That is why he chose to open his first store 21 years ago in neighboring Clay, to avoid competing with his friend in Trussville. When Haisten Rexall Drugs closed in the mid-2000s, the Carrolls began praying about filling the void the long-standing business left in downtown Trussville.
Since then, the store’s gift shop has grown from a small number of collectibles to a boutique offering clothing and jewelry for women, men and children, including 10 to 15 variations of Hewitt-Trussville Husky shirts during the fall season. Christmas ornaments and other décor are in stock this month.
“It gave some options for women who come in our store while they wait on their prescriptions. They enjoy it,” Greg Carroll said. “I can tell by the sales it’s been a win-win for them, and it’s helped generate some income that stays local in the community that might otherwise go outside the community or mail order.”
The move to Trussville also allowed Carroll Pharmacy to expand its brand and community involvement. One way is through the addition of its Caring Bear mascot at store and citywide events. Another is the annual Elf Party through a partnership with Elf Magic, which provides elves for adoption, elf juice and snacks and photo opportunities with Santa, the elves and Caring Bear.
This year’s Elf Parties will be Nov. 27 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Trussville and Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Clay store (6767 Old Springville Road).
