Mariam and Ali Thakkar, owners of the Laurel Main Street Pharmacy, were awarded the Small Business Impact Award by the Laurel Historical Society.
Pharmacist Ali Thakkar was humbled by the award and appreciates it. "Wasn’t quite sure how to react as we do what we do on a daily basis. We conduct our business and try to assist and facilitate community organizations,” he said to the Muslim Link. The pharmacy makes an active effort to forge relationships- conducting blood pressure readings for seniors and taking initiatives on health education issues.
The Laurel Historical Society was organized in 1975 as the Laurel Horizon Society. Since then it has worked to preserve the cultural and historical heritage of greater Laurel. Mariam joined the organization's Board in 2013 and has been serving as the Treasurer since 2015. She runs an event planning business and is active in the community.
Opened in 2005 by a friend of Ali, the couple bought the pharmacy in 2011. A hometown local drugstore holds tremendous value to the couple. Thakkar says the pharmacy has a lot of community support even though he rarely does marketing.
Not a box chain pharmacy, Laurel Main Street Street does compounding and hospice patient deliveries. The drugstore grew in a time when businesses are shutting down doors and moved to a new location. But not from Main Street. Now hiring 8 full time or close to full time staff, the business provides jobs for the community members.
Giving is a daily business for them. “This community is very supportive of local businesses,” he shares, so both husband and wife try to give back. Thakkar conducted community outreach on the recent opiate crisis with the Hope House- a rehab facility.. They work with Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. (LARS), also an awardee, a non profit that enables homeless and low-income people in Laurel who are in crisis to achieve stability and long-term self-sufficiency. Main Street helps patients in need of assistance.
“We work with LARS to help people get their medication,” says Thakkar.
Thakkar was born in India, moved to the United States from Gujrat when he was 12 and went on to attend the highly rated University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
Thakkar gives his wife a lot of credit. She scaled back her career to give back to the community.
They look forward to getting more involved with health education in the Muslim community.
They have great reviews on Yelp."Great neighborhood pharmacy. These folks really care about their clients and it shows!! I have never had to wait for anything, and if there is a problem with a prescription, I am notified immediately. Everyone who works here is extremely helpful and friendly,” wrote a customer.
“It is important for community organizations to work together. In addition to co-sponsoring events and attending each other’s programs, sometimes it’s nice to acknowledge each other. This year’s honorees definitely need to be celebrated!” noted Jhanna Levin, Gala Chair.
The Thakkars will be honored with the Community Impact Awards on April 28 at the Laurel Historical Society’s Annual Gala.
The gala is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. Festivities are being held at the Doubletree Inn at 15101 Sweitzer Lane in Laurel. Ticket information can be found at www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org.
The Laurel Historical Society is located at 817 Main Street, Laurel, Md. Its current Laurel Museum exhibit: “We the People: How Community Engagement Shaped Laurel “will run through December 2018. The Laurel Museum is open Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00am-2:00pm and Sundays 1-4:00pm Admission is free. For John Brennan Research Library appointments, tour groups and more information contact info@Laurelhistoricalsociety.org, or 301-725-7975.
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