Central Drug Store

I’m not sure that I can add much more than the other 5 star reviewers have said other than that Jerry the pharmacist is wonderful. If he’s on vacation there’s a man who fills in (sorry I can’t remember your name) and he’s very good too. Laura and Toni at the front desk are great and helpful.
They’ll remember your name!
They have a delivery service!
But do pop in to say hello and to meet them. Parking is pretty good and for fun after you can hit some of those hispanic produce markets (yucca fries anyone?)
Walgreens and CVS recently changed their corporate address to China to avoid paying billions in taxes. NO OK. This is one of the many reasons I support Central Drug Store.

I wasn’t a fan of the customer service, when I walk in there, I get the «what do you want look» and talked to like I don’t know anything. Even on the phone, when I have called in my prescription, I get the same attitude. Maybe it is because I am not elderly but I still deserve the same respect and customer service as the other people I have seen treated better. I will take my prescription somewhere else.

Pharmacist Jerry Tonelli has gone out of way over and over again to provide service to me and my family. Just the other day my doc prescribed a med that he didn’t have, other local pharmacies didn’t have, walgreens didn’t have — and I needed it right away. Jerry found it for me down in Daly City, spoke to the Pharmacist there, and sorted everything out for me.
Central delivers which is just amazing — and usually they can deliver right away.
The store itself is a time warp so if you like nostalgia you will love it.
Great customer service, active in the community, Russell stover chocolates… what else do you need?

Best customer service I have experienced anywhere. I recently moved in around the corner and the staff here have made me feel like family. I’ve only been in twice and they already know who I am when I call. Service is fast, friendly, efficient and the prices are actually better here than they are at Walgreens for the medicines I take. I am a prescriber and have to deal with pharmacies on a daily basis. If they all were like Central Drug, my job would be so much easier and my patients would be so much happier. Please support this neighborhood gem.

This review is so overdue, but today I finally remembered to do it! So here it is;
Are you interested in finding a Pharmacy where you are greeted by your first name and treated with respect and given courtesy beyond your wildest dreams??? Where if there is any problem Jerry, owner and head Pharmacist will come right out from the back and solve any little curve ball that might be holding up your medication… whether by the Insurance co. or otherwise… Jerry has always been extremely helpful and makes me feel like I actually have someone who cares enough about my health and well being to go the extra mile. But it also extends to his Mom and Sisters who also help run the store. It doesn’t get any more Mom and Pop than this! And I can tell you that Walgreens, CVS, etc… would just blow me off and like Robots repeat their rules to me over and over for every or any question I would have to ask them.
I can only say I really do thank God the day Walgreen’s finally pushed me too far and forced me to seek out an alternative Pharmacy. I’ve been a regular customer of Central Drugs in Mission Terrace ever since… which is going on a few years now!
Cannot recommend them any higher, they are simply the BEST!

Fantastic service — better than the «big boys.» Their business is built around the customer and each customer’s needs. They are an essential part of the community.

The staff are a family. They are friendly and fun to talk to. This is a true mom and pop place worth supporting.

I decided recently I wanted to start supporting mom & pop shops. I had seen this in my neighborhood for months, so I decided to switch from Walgreens. I couldn’t be happier. They’ve been great. They know my name when I walk in, and they’re always super friendly. I love the their service so much that I even started using them for more than just my prescriptions. I am happy to give them all my business for my drug store needs. They’re a true gem, and they go above and beyond the corporate drones at Walgreens.

At this pharmacy you get a pharmacist that can answer your questions in a manner that anyone can understand. Great service!

You should be coming here if you don’t already. Forget Walgreen’s and all the other chains — for great service and true caring, Central is the BEST. This is a family-​owned pharmacy, just like Mom used to make them. The staff is warm, professional and very friendly. They know your name and take care of you in sickness and in health. But it’s in sickness that they really come through — they’ll really go the extra mile to make sure you have what you need.
Bring ALL your prescriptions here and get treated the way YOU OUGHTA BE! Stop waiting in long lines for your stuff. The staff at Central will help you figure out the red tape and get you your scrips faster than any chain. This place is especially great if you’re older or have older relatives you’re taking care of. Seniors are royalty here, as they should be.
Central Drugstore is the BEST in San Francisco!

This pharmacy has gifts such as beautifully wrapped soaps, hand cream sets on pretty trays, unique jewelry, and more. I love the atmosphere and service. My mother-​in-​law has been coming here for years and is thankful to Jerry for all his help with her prescription needs. This is a pleasant, fun place to have in the neighborhood!

Nice people run this store with everything you really need instead of going to Walgreens.
Plus, you can turn in your expired medications here.
Just wish they held Sunday hours.

The best neighborhood Pharmacy you can get. Jerry is so professional, and the staff is wonderful. You well rest easy that all of your needs are met.

Love this place! It’s timeless. People are friendly and very helpful.
Wish all drugstores are still like this.

My whole family has been going here for as long as I can remember going to a drug store. When my grandma was alive, they would sometimes go out of their way to make sure she got her medicine if she couldn’t pick it up. Everyone is always friendly and helpful and, if you go there long enough, knows your name. We are all loyal customers

One of the last real drug stores left in our wonderful city!
Love your work Jerry!!!

this the only place to get my 98% rubbing alcohol… hard to find and i approve this!

They don’t make drug stores like this anymore.
When I was in the hospital and could only be discharged with a specific and uncommon prescription, Jerry at Central Drug had it when the big pharmacies didn’t. I’ve filled prescriptions there ever since, and I’ve found that they’ll work hard to make sure they have what you need.
I keep coming back to Central for the personalized service and the cheap delivery service for when I can’t make it there before they close. The place exudes old-​school 60s pharmacy charm. It’s always a pleasant experience, and you really can’t say that for Walgreen’s.

I HAVE TO WRITE THIS. This is the minimum thing that I can do for this neighborhood drug store.
First of all, please excuse my English. My English is 2^nd language.
I was moved. I cannot write the detail here though. The pharmacist of this Central Drug Store helped me and my mother-​in-​law. I am from a socialistic monarchy — like Canada, Switzerland, Japan, … — which everybody has national health insurance and no complicated insurance /​medication system like in here. I was having hard time how to get a medication. — just ONE medication. I still don’t get why it’s so hard to get ONE medication through a health insurance. Why is it so complicated here!!! I hit dead-​ends to this way and that way.
To make long story short, the pharmacist of this Central Drug Store saved me. WE NEED THIS KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD DRUG STORE AND THE PHARMACIST (Excuse me – I don’t know his name though). PLEASE SUPPORT CENTRAL DRUG STORE OF EXCELSIOR!!!
Thank you for reading my comment.

I love Central Drug Store. It’s a drug store/​pharmacy that has been in the Excelsior (from the looks of it) since about the 50’s, and it feels much homier than a Walgreens. And it IS much homier than a Walgreens– it’s obviously locally owned, has stuff like perfume and gifts, and the lab-​coated pharmacists are helpful and friendly. They know a lot of the regulars and are always there to answer your questions.
They have candy, greeting cars, otc the counter medicines, wrapping paper, shampoo, face wash, makeup, all the regular drug store stuff. They also have a small sale section where I’ve gotten things very inexpensively, like shampoo for 99 cents.
You can recognize it from the fabulous vintage black tiled front and neon sign and seasonal window displays — Central Drug is an invaluable alternative to some megacorporate drugstore, and I’m always happy to frequent it.
EDIT: They also carry a lot of old-​school hard to find products with cute packaging, like Mexana foot powder and Packer’s Pine Tar soap.