Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
Mention the name Bob Ladd and almost immediately people know exactly who you are talking about. He’s either filled their prescription or maybe even sold them a Harley over the years!
The great thing about this place is knowing everybody. The bad thing about this place is knowing everybody,” Bob laughs during my interview with him at the pharmacy he recently bought back in Nellysford.
Customers are more than happy to see Bob back at the helm. Over the past several years the pharmacy has gone through some big changes, some good and some not so good, after the tragic death of Cheryl Tompkins back in 2013. Cheryl bought the pharmacy from Bob in 2005 when it was still in the old Afton Family Medicine office where the Rockfish Valley Inn is located today. Cheryl eventually moved the pharmacy down to Nellysford where it originally began years before.
The pharmacy lost much of its personal touch after Cheryl died in 2013. Owners weren’t local and there had been out of state owners managing local staff from a distance. That’s all changed now with Bob back in the saddle!
“I’m getting a lot of thanks you’s. A lot of good to see you back. As far as old friends, that’s a different thing. You know the area, you get to know a lot of people. A lot of people that I never knew are saying so and so told me about you and we’re all glad to have you back.” –
Bob Ladd owner of Stoney Creek Pharmacy in Nellysford.
Shortly before Bob sold the pharmacy to Cheryl in 2005 he founded the Shenandoah Harley-Davidson dealership in Staunton. He eventually sold that a few years back. And, the pharmacy bug kept calling.
“June 1970 I became a pharmacist and bought my first drugstore in June 1975. this makes my ninth, counting it twice. I’ve had a bunch of apothecaries. It how I was taught. If I do the apothecary thing I’ll cut it down to 1/3 rd of the space max. I’ll make it a real apothecary, all wooden,” Bob said of some possible future plans in Nellysford.
“I wish I’d never sold my house. I can think of three people now that each take 10 prescriptions and they have come back here.”
Bob says he want’s his customer’s feedback on what they would like to see happen at the pharmacy. He’s encouraging them to drop by and see him to tell him what they want. And he really means it. So stop by and let him know!
Welcome back Bob, we all missed you!
Thank you Tommy this is a very spot on and well written story! I wish i had explained thst knowing most everyone makes it tough when one of those people or a whole family has difficult times. Is in an accident, etc.. Thanks again! Bob
[…] The pharmacy went through a couple of ownership changes after Cheryl died, but eventually closed. It all came full circle in December 2017 when Bob Ladd, the very first owner of Stoney Creek Pharmac… […]