Milwaukee's Daily Magazine Friday, July 3, 2009
Today
Hi: 76
Lo: 59
Sat
Hi: 70
Lo: 60
Sun
Hi: 79
Lo: 61
Section Sponsor
Article Tools
Print this Article
Make text larger
Related Twitter Posts

  • ShopLocalcom:
    CVS/pharmacy: 20% OFF on Coolers, beach towels or chairs, grills & more. Offer valid 6/28/2009 thru 7/4/2009 #sale link

  • BamTheDJ:
    @java_monkey Choices are Darvocet, Lortab or Tylenol 3 w/ codeine. :p *is a walking pharmacy*

  • james_17:
    Dxm: A(AU) C(US) Pharmacy Only (S2)(AU) OTC(US) Dextromethorphan (DXM or DM) is an antitussive drug. It is one o.. link

  • JonE1975:
    Except for the occassional 'why the hell did I decide to be a pharmacy tech' tweet, or something along those lines.

  • xliTheGeniusilx:
    ...have an iPod touch or iPhone and a computer meeting minimum UF and College of Pharmacy (COP) requirements," is stated on UF's website...


Follow us on Twitter ...
In Milwaukee Buzz Briefs
Brady Street Pharmacy chucks groceries for new theater
 
By Molly Snyder Edler RSS Feed
OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writer

E-mail author | Author bio
More articles by Molly Snyder Edler

Published Dec. 9, 2002 at 5:14 a.m.
Tags: brady street, pharmacy, drugstore

Jim Searles, owner of Brady Street Pharmacy, is doing whatever it takes to keep his independent pharmacy and lunch counter in business, even if it means ripping out the entire grocery section and replacing it with a 50-seat theater.

"Food sales plummeted into oblivion. So if I can't do that, let's do some good with it," says 58-year-old Searles, who bought the Brady St. building with his now-deceased wife, Barb, in 1983. "The pharmacy is a fading dinosaur that will eventually cease to exist. Right now, we're trying to give it a reason to exist by making it a theater."

The theater, called The Astor Street Performing Arts Center, is only half-built but already has non-profit status. Seales hopes to have the space open by spring, and plans to make it available at no cost to Milwaukee groups, including the Conservatory of Music, the Milwaukee Ballet, UWM film students and anyone else who wants to stage a "PG or PG-13" performance.

Searles, who grew up in Glendale and attended Nicolet High School, graduated from Madison as a pharmacist in 1968. He was named "Man of the Year" by Henry Meier in the early '80s for his work with ESHAC and credits himself, his wife Barb and Ellen Callahan as the driving forces behind the development of The Brady Street Association.

He once ran the pharmacy inside the Knickerbocker Hotel, but was asked to leave after taking a stand against owner Oliver Plunkett. When Searles tried to move his business to a vacant and abandoned building on the corner of Brady and Astor, he couldn't find a bank to give him a loan. "Three banks turned us down. They told us Brady Street was shot and it would never come back," says Searles, who finally, on the fourth try, was granted a loan.

Owning the building has been the key to Brady Street Pharmacy's survival. Because he doesn't pay exorbitant rent and has a relatively low mortgage, he can stay in business while still keeping prices low. Also, decades of civic church work have resulted in a strong network of parishioners who are dedicated to the business.

Searles lives upstairs from the pharmacy, where another theater takes up much of his living space. "It's like nothing you've ever seen," he says happily. "10,000 square feet, 43 borrowed chairs and regular piano and voice recitals. It's from the world I grew up in that disappeared and should not have."

Post a comment / write a review.

Recent blogs/briefs by Molly Snyder Edler
What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Find me in a random root beer barrel
Wednesday
On Friday, July 3, at some point during the day, I'll be slinging soda from a random root ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Blues Traveler spices up mellow Sunday night
Monday
During a crowded Sunday night performance at Summerfest, Blues Traveler front man John ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. Ticket giveaway leads to mistaken identity
June 23, 2009
Late this morning, I announced via an OnMilwaukee.com blog and Facebook that I would be ...

thINK announces new line, new mission
June 21, 2009
In early 2008, I wrote an article about thINK Conscious Apparel, an organic, fair trade ...

What is a blog?  For OMC, it is a short blurb that we write when the mood strikes us.  It can be first person, funny or informative. In short, a blog is whatever we want it to be. I want to shoot a gun
June 16, 2009
Although I have no intention of joining the NRA or packing on a regular basis, I am interested ...



OnMilwaukee.com is part of the In Click Network. Other In Click sites include: 30RockReport.com | Behind The Scenes at OnMilwaukee.com | BetterRecipes.org | Bimmer Digest | Brain Brawn & Body | BrewCityBeats.com | Brewcitybigscreen.com | BritPop Rocks | Brooklynbanter.com | CactusLeagueReport.com | Caffeinateddigest.com | Culinary Piedmont | Cycling Chainring | Daily Lost Update | Daily Milwaukee News | Daily Spa | DannyGokeyMilwaukee.com | Dogs Blogs | EarthFueled.com | Edible Wisconsin | Gadget Deals and Steals | GolfLinksWisconsin.com | H1N1 Alerts | H1N1 Blog | H1N1 Prevention | H1N1 Reporter | H1N1 Tracker | HogEnthusiast.com | Informed Runner | iPhone Daily Report | Man United Nation | Milwaukee Brewers Nation | Milwaukee Bucks Blog | Milwaukee Dad | Minnesota Wild Nation | MomMilwaukee.com | My Super Stocks | MyGayMilwaukee.com | MyHangoverHelper | News on Draught | NY Mets Nation | OnAtlantaGA.com | OnAustinTX.com | OnBaltimoreMD.com | OnBirminghamAL.com | OnBostonMass.com | OnBuffaloNY.com | OnCharlotteNC.com | OnCincinnati.com | OnClevelandOH.com | OnColumbusOH.com | OnDallas.com | OnDCmetro.com | OnDenverCO.com | OnDetroitMI.com | OnFortLauderdale.com | OnGreenBay.com | OnHartford.com | OnIndianapolisIN.com | OnKansasCityMO.com | OnLosAngelesCA.com | OnLouisvilleKY.com | OnMadison.com | OnMemphisTN.com | OnMiamiFLA.com | OnMilwaukee.com Cars | OnMilwaukee.com Metro Headlines | OnNashvilleTN.com | OnNewOrleansLA.com | OnNYCny.com | OnOrlandoFL.com | OnPalmSprings.com | OnPhiladelphia.com | OnPhoenixAZ.com | OnPittsburgh.com | OnPortlandOR.com | OnProvidence.com | OnRichmondVA.com | OnSacramento.com | OnSaltLakeCity.com | OnSanAntonioTX.com | OnSanDiegoCA.com | OnSanFran.com | OnSanJose.com | OnSeattleWA.com | OnSinCity.com | OnStLouis.com | OnStPetersburg.com | OnTampaBay.com | OnTucsonAZ.com | OnTwinCities.com | OnWichita.com | OnWindyCity.com | Packers Posts | Porsche 911 Fans | PriusFans.com | Roller Derby Network | SnuggieFans.com | SummerfestRocks.com | Swine Flu China | Swine Flu Reporter | The 24 Reporter | The Barack Obama Fan Club | The Brilliant Manager | The Comic Book Reporter | The In Click | The Office Fan Blog | TheHDTVReporter.com | TheNetbookBlog.com | TheNewParentBlog.com | Trueguitarheroes.com | Vintage Mets | VW Busses | WaukeshaWeekly.com | Weekly Media News | WisWomen.com | Woodworker Digest