Service Drug
The name of the Service Drug pharmacy goes back to 1920, when Bill Chernasek moved his business to the Walton Building, the present site, after having established the business on the south side. Chernasek started South Side Drug about 1906 in what is now the Southside Saloon building at 48 East Broadway. In 1913, he was joined by his brother, Dr. Sam Chernasek, who practiced medicine in the back of the store. The Southside Saloon location was sold to Elmore Wecker when the Chernaseks moved to the Walton Building.
Ervin Gaebe, who had worked for the Chernaseks since the store had been located on the south side, eventually took over the ownership and it was during this time that the gift shop was opened in the basement. Mildred Gaebe started the lines of china and silver and Ethel Jesperson later managed the gift shop from about 1946 to 1978. While she was there, the business went through two ownership changes. In 1955, Otto Gunsch bought it and in 1966, Lloyd Schnaidt, who had come to work there in 1960, took over.
The store was remodeled since then, including in 1971, when the back portion of the building, at that time occupied by the Kostelecky barbershop, was turned into a Hallmark card shop. In 1981, the pharmacy was moved to this area and the gift shop was moved upstairs, making room for offices in the basement. The BrickHouse Grill now resides at this location.