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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEATTLE—From soda fountains to bar code cash registers, Fran Still has witnessed first-hand the transformations within the drugstore business and retailing.
After nearly five decades of serving customers at only two stores, longtime Bartell Drugs employee Fran Still retires on March 31. Moreover, the 64 year-old clerk has had the longest tenure of a non-family member in the 112 year-old company’s history.
Her career with Bartell’s began at the age of 17 in 1955 at the company’s West Seattle store—formerly located on California Avenue. Store Manager L.C. Gilmore convinced her to work for Bartell’s instead of the local five and dime store.
“The best part about working at the California Avenue location was the old soda fountain. It was a great place for friends and customers to meet, talk and drink coffee,” said Still.
When the store closed 34 years later, Still moved to the new West Seattle location at 4706 42nd Avenue S.W. where she has continued to serve customers over the last 13 years.
According to Still, the biggest change she saw during her tenure was the impact of modern technology on ringing a sale. In 1955, the stores only had one cash register with eight drawers in the front of the store. Other registers with only one drawer eventually replaced it over the years, until Point of Sale registers were introduced several years ago.
According to Still, the customers and her co-workers are what has kept her at the company for the last four decades and are what she is going to miss the most when she leaves.
“Over the last 47 years I have had the opportunity to meet and work with a lot of wonderful people, including George D. Bartell—who was once my store manager—and George H. Bartell Jr. It’s been a pleasure getting to know multiple generations of customers as well as seeing how much the company has changed over the years,” said Still.
“Fran is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our employee associates. It has been a pleasure having her within our company and we wish her a very happy and healthy retirement,” said George D. Bartell, current CEO and chairman.
Bartell Drugs is the nations’ oldest drugstore chain. The family-owned company owns and operates 50 stores in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.
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