C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries

Written by Gwynneth C. Malin for Place Matters with contributions from Ian Ginsberg

Established in 1838, C.O. Bigelow is the oldest apothecary in America. It is also a New York Institution. Bigelow is an ethical pharmacy in the traditional sense, yet the “coolest” place in New York to buy anything beauty. The owner scours the globe looking for the best of the best in beauty and personal care, and the store is a collection of his favorites, as well as the shop’s own things. Stepping into C.O. Bigelow is a walk back into a time of personalized attention not often seen any longer; a gathering place, a comforting atmosphere in the otherwise impersonal chaotic world of retail. Some say, “if you can’t find it anywhere else, try Bigelows.”

In 1838, Dr. Galen Hunter opened the store as The Village Apothecary Shop at 102 Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. In 1880, Hunter sold the establishment to an employee, Clarence Otis Bigelow, who renamed it C.O. Bigelow. Twenty-two years later, Bigelow moved the shop to its current location of 414 Sixth Avenue. In 1939, William Ginsberg bought the shop and bequeathed it to his son in the 1950’s. Ginsberg’s grandson, Ian Ginsberg, who grew up working in the shop, joined the business in 1985, and is now the third generation pharmacist and owner of C.O. Bigelow. Ian’s son, Alec, has just finished his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree, and will one day become the fourth generation to take the helm.

The business is a pharmacy, a surgical and medical supplier, and a retailer of unique cosmetic products. In terms of pharmacy, C.O. Bigelow maintains one of the largest inventories of pharmaceuticals in the entire city. With a combination of state of the art technology and a staff of six pharmacists and PharmD’s, C.O. Bigelow delivers an experience long lost in today’s health environment. The staff also offers a variety of services including compounding, prescription flavoring for children and animals, vaccinations, travel medicine and MTM (Medication Therapy Management). The pharmacy has had a long-standing role as a supplier of HIV medication.

In addition to its pharmacy, C.O. Bigelow carries an inventory of thousands of beauty products. Ian Ginsberg curates the wide selection of imported brands of personal care products by maintaining close ties to other family-run businesses in America and Europe. One of the original products, a body cream called Lemon Body Cream was developed in 1870, and is still available today.

C.O. Bigelow has a long history of connections with famous individuals. According to legend, Thomas Edison sought Bigelow’s balm for his burnt fingers when he was working on inventing the light bulb in the 1870s. Mark Twain appears as a customer in the company ledgers from 1905 and 1906 under his name, S.L. Clemens. There are letters in the pharmacy’s archive from Eleanor Roosevelt, who was a regular customer between 1933 and 1942, when she lived in the neighborhood. Today the shop remains a favorite of celebrities, who cherish its one-of-a-kind experience and are grateful to be treated as private citizens.

In a city now overrun with drugstore chains such as Duane Reade, CVS, and Walgreens, places like C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries matter. In Manhattan, C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries stands out as a unique, family-run Village pharmacy and drugstore. It strikes the delicate balance of maintaining its old-time feel and providing modern-day conveniences, such as a text message notification when your prescription is ready for pick up.

The facade of the building features stonework and ironwork from 1902, and the name Bigelow Building is engraved across the lintel at the second floor. The pink signature neon sign that reads “C.O. Bigelow Drugs dates to the 1940’s and is a frequent subject of tourists’ photographs.

Walking into the shop at 414 Sixth Avenue, one steps back in time. The tile floor, canvas ceiling, oak fixtures, internal brass work and the gas chandeliers overhead are original from when the shop opened at this location in 1902. A glass cosmetic counter is located in the center of the store and large pharmacy counter runs along the back wall. Balcony offices overlook the shop, and are accessible by a narrow spiral staircase. You can still see where a sode fountain stood until 1984. Although defuct, in its day, the fountain was popular with locals, as well as the New York Dolls, radical lawyer William Kunstler, music writer Nat Hentoff, and the cast of Saturday Night Live. The staff used to cook a whole turkey every day for customers.

The building that C.O. Bigelow occupies is included in the Greenwich Village Historic District, and it has been occupied by the Ginsberg family since 1939.