Meet the Owner: Mohammed Patel of Oak Park Pharmacy

Oak Park Pharmacy has been a fixture on the corner of Prospect Park West at Bartel-Pritchard Square for more than 30 years, and head pharmacist Mohammed Patel has been the man behind the counter for nearly all of them. 

Patel, 68, has been in the pharmacy business for most of his life. Originally from India, he earned a master's in the field from Long Island University in 1973, and cut his prescription-filling teeth working in hospitals and other stores before finally taking over Oak Park in 1984.  

Just down the road from Oak Park, Windsor Terrace residents are bracing for , the country's largest pharmacy mega-chain, which will open its doors in the on Prospect Avenue within the next year. Its arrival will almost certainly alter the course of business for not only Patel, but his son, Sajid, who owns Ballard Pharmacy just up the street.

Patel took a moment from his day to chat with Patch about the state of the pharmacy business in Windsor Terrace. 

Patch: How Oak Park come to be?

Patel: I was looking for a business for a very long time. In 1984 we found that this business was available—the owner wanted to sell, and we saw that this was a good neighborhood, a good place to start. This pharmacy was originally started in 1978. 

Patch: How did you find this place?

Patel: I used to work in Brooklyn, at Lutheran Medical Center, and my partner used to work at Methodist Hospital, so through contacts we found out that the owner wanted to sell. 

Patch: How is business right now?

Patel: Business is not easy right now. Things are difficult—mail orders are taking over. But still, it's a good place, good people, good clients. We love the neighborhood. 

Patch: I imagine most of your customers are regulars.

Patel: Oh yes. They're like family members. They're very close to us. 

Patch: Walgreens will be coming in soon. Are you worried?

Patel: No, I'm not worried. We can very easily survive. The service that we give is irreplaceable. You just can't replace the service that private stores give. Chains cannot match it. 

Patch: What types of services do you offer that the chains can't?

Patel: Everything. The direct contact with the people. We are very proud of ourselves, and we can always survive. More new people are coming every day. 

Patch: Your son owns the pharmacy across the street. How does that work?

Patel: Both [pharmacies] are independent. He has his own customers, I have mine—people from [Prospect Park Southwest] come to me, the other side, people go to him. 

Patch: What are your plans for the future?

Patel: Keep on working—work hard and do the best you can, and take care of the people. If the opportunity comes to expand, why not? We'd like to. We have no specific plans, but if something comes up tomorrow, maybe we'll do something. 

Let Patch save you time. Get local news delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.