Hugh Larkin spent 33 years working as a pharmacist in corporate America before he decided to try something new. He left his job in the Richmond area and on Nov. 7, 2011, he opened his own business—Health-Rite Pharmacy—in Katy.

His goal, he says, is delivering pharmacy back to the community, not just through the physical delivery of prescriptions, but by building relationships with customers.

"It's just about being able to give people the service they deserve," he said. "Working in corporate America, you don't have the support to handle the volume and spend the time with patients that they truly deserve."

One of the most effective methods Larkin employs to connect with the community is Health-Rite's free delivery service. Larkin will often go to customer houses personally, he said.

"It's about building relationships," he said. "It's about going in and listening to what they have to say, especially people who are bedridden. Just to see someone smile and invite you in when you come to the door, it's heartwarming."

Now that he runs his own business, Larkin said he can also lend a hand to people in desperate situations who cannot afford critical medication.

"I'll show them the invoice and ask them to pay a little over to cover my labels and bottles, but sometimes I don't event calculate that in," he said. "We can't do this for everyone, but we try to filter through those who are truly in need and do what we can to help."

Health-Rite accepts all major insurance plans, and staff will also help customers navigate their payment options, including finding ways to reduce insurance co-pays. Larkin said he will also special order anything a customer needs if it is not in stock.

Business started slow for Larkin but has steadily grown over the years, he said. As he continues with his dream of bringing back the pharmacy as a community gathering place, he said he will never forget why he got into pharmacy into the first place.

"I didn't open this to get rich," he said. "We're not looking at anyone as a number or dollar sign. This is an industry where you can really impact someone's life.

"My focus is to be a servant, to take my blessings and bless other people with them."

A generational business

Hugh Larkin, owner of Health-Rite Pharmacy, said he hopes his shop will develop into a generational business over the years where his customers will eventually start bringing their children and grandchildren.

"It's based on the way my grandfather operated his dry cleaning business," Larkin said. "It was always customer service oriented, a legacy not built on finances, but on relationships and respect."

Larkin said he eventually would like to expand to a larger site. He said he has not put a timeframe on the expansion yet, but if it did happen, it would likely be within the next year or two.

"I want to bring back some things that the pharmacies of yesterday had," he said. "I just want to make it a place where people can come together."

Health-Rite Pharmacy

1801 N. Mason Road, Katy

832-437-2216

www.health-ritekaty.com

Hours: Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–2 p.m., Closed Sundays