Georgetown residents will see more public art with the addition of a “postcard-like” mural on the Gus’s Drug building at 702 E. University Ave. Gus’s Drug owners Amanda and Mark Bradley are funding the design, implementation and materials for the mural by artist Sarah Blankenship.

“Gus’s Drug is part of an employee-owned group of four pharmacies whose operations and marketing leadership live in Georgetown,” Amanda Bradley said regarding the reason for pursuing a mural. “We are incredibly proud of our community and look for ways we can reinvest back into our communities that support local businesses.”

She said since acquiring Gus's Drug in spring 2014, they have been remodeling the building’s interior and working to staff a strong team.

“We believe the mural will be an outward expression of that effort and makeover of a 70-year-old Georgetown staple,” she said.

Amanda Bradley came up with the design, and Blankenship used her expertise to determine how they could make the vision a reality.


On March 2, Blankenship will begin drawing out the design on the wall. The public is invited to paint with Blankenship March 4-15 in two- or four-hour blocks and must sign up ahead of time. Blankenship estimates the project will take two weeks, depending on volunteer skills and weather. Afterward she will touch up anything requiring extra detailing.

“While the physical final product, the mural, will be beautiful, a huge part of the value in the mural is the community involvement, conversations and memories,” she said. “A friend shared that she grew up behind Gus’s and used to go in the back door through the pharmacy to buy candy as a kid ... today she still lives in Georgetown and can’t wait to bring her family to paint the mural with her in her old neighborhood.”

Murals create a tangible sense of place and a destination, resulting in increased foot traffic while adding color, vibrancy and character to urban environments, Blankenship said.
“They help bring customers to pre-existing locations,” she said. “They add color to building walls and streets that might otherwise go unnoticed, which is a treat for locals and tourists alike.”