Schroeder and Hinkle Pharmacy

Meet John Hinkle Jr:

Good evening everyone. Thank you for stopping by my establishment.
It’s been a family tradition since 1893 and is one of the few family businesses from that era that’s still in existence. I’m John Hinkle Jr. by the way. “The original Hinkle’s store was opened by my grandfather, Samuel W. Hinkle in partnership with Luther K Schroeder, and was located in a building one-quarter the size of today’s pharmacy.”

Schroeder had previously acted as manager at the Central Pharmacy before entering a co-partnership with my grandfather, Samuel, who graduated at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy that year.

At that time Columbia developed a big business of egg dyes, one of the branches being conducted by druggists, Schroeder and Hinkle. They began the manufacture of the dye on a small scale for the local trade until demand increased and the product was shipped all across the U.S.

After the passing of my grandfather and his co-owner, my father, John Sr., became sole owner and enlarged the building. I joined as a partner in ‘58 until taking over the
business on my own after my father passed away in 1972. It was then that I decided to make some significant changes and expand the business even more. I moved the egg dye business to Marietta, and later sold it to Darda Enterprises. I made sure the dye still bears the Hinkle name though. “Doc Hinkle’s Egg Dye.”

I also purchased two adjoining buildings and tore them down to accommodate a larger structure. A year later my wife, Pat, opened the gift shop. The new building allowed for a more significant customer capacity, encouraging the community to shop and eat locally.

I’ve believed myself to be very involved in the community and want to provide top
quality service to my customers. Success stems from a combination of “competitive pricing with emphasis on service, a combination which is necessary to stay in the Market.”

Today, the original pharmacy is no longer in operation, but the restaurant is still
flourishing, with it’s addition of an ice cream sundae bar. Hinkle’s Restaurant has also been joined with Murphy’s Mercantile & Co. to deliver locals and tourists quality food, handcrafted gifts and a warm and a welcoming atmosphere. Make sure you stop in sometime to have a meal at this Columbia legacy!

It was nice meeting you all. If you’re interested in visiting another historical landmark, I insist you head right up the block to Stover’s Newstand. Thanks again for stopping by.