Riley’s Drugs, an independent and family-owned pharmacy, has now been serving Lexington locals for 100 years.

The business commemorated the milestone on Sept. 12 with a ribbon cutting.

Located at 1207 W. Main St., the pharmacy has reached the milestone of 100 years serving Lexington and the surrounding community. Owner and pharmacist Roberta Vining reflected on the business and its history.

The pharmacy was opened by Sid Riley, a Batesburg orphan, in Red Bank Mill Village in 1924. Unfortunately, tragedy hit in 1947, and the building burned down due to a lightning strike leading Riley to rebuild on Columbia Avenue. The business made its third and final move to its current location in 2012.

“I think just to be able to say the folks that have supported us all these years and also to be able to let the news and our community appreciate who we are and where we’ve come from,” Vining told the Chronicle after the business turned 99.

According to the website, Riley was a friend, mentor and eventual business partner to Bob Perry, Vining’s father, who joined the pharmacy in 1967. Vining shared that she began to work at the pharmacy while she was still in high school, ultimately becoming the new owner.

Vining told the Chronicle that Riley had established good patient care and was taking care of his community from the very beginning, stating that her and her father, who retired last April after 55 years, worked to uphold that.

“I think it’s really special just on a personal note, because even though Dr. Riley was born in 1899 – and let’s see, that would have meant he was 64 years older than me – I still got to know him,” Vining said. “And he was like really special to our family. So in a lot of ways he was like a grandfather and we were like a family that he never really had. I guess grandchildren.”

The owner shared that the pharmacy is home to an incredible team and that the pharmacy has worked to establish a great culture with fantastic people.

“We’re just grateful to be able to be here,” Vining said. “For all these years, and to just continue to give great pharmacy services to the life event. “