Finney Drug was a long-time drugstore that operated from 1901-1993. Today’s Mayo Pharmacy is its successor.
Burt Finney and E.S. Beardsley originated the drugstore at 108 N 4th Street – inside the First National Bank building. The drugstore relocated to the Grand Pacific Hotel in 1908 – the same year Beardsley stepped down from the business. In 1948, the store expanded into an adjacent space – once occupied by Paper Dollar Bar. Its iconic soda fountain was discontinued on March 1, 1969.
Finney Drug remained at the Grand Pacific Hotel until the building was marked for demolition through Urban Renewal, relocating to the Wards Building in September 1973. Ironically, Beardsley’s residence once stood on the Wards Building site. Finney Drug relocated again, in April 1989, across the street to 303 N 4th Street – formerly occupied by G.P. Sporting Goods.
After Beardsley’s departure, Finney operated his namesake store independently until John Johnson partnered in 1940. Finney retired six years later and sold his interest to Johnson, who died just two months later. James Tyler then purchased part ownership and operated the pharmacy alongside Johnson’s widow, Merle. Tyler retired in about 1963 and sold his interest to two long-time pharmacists named John Craven and Andrew Virnig. Merle Johnson retired in April 1973 and Craven acquired full ownership from Virnig in 1982. Craven himself retired in April 1993, when Dan Mayo took over the pharmacy. It became Mayo Pharmacy at that point and still resides at Finney Drug’s last location.
For some time, Finney’s was affiliated in some way with national drug chain Walgreens, advertising itself as a “Walgreens Agency Drug Store.”
