Ranch Pharmacy and Linda's Hallmark to Close Doors After 40 Years

For 40 years, residents of Channahon relied on Lou Kaducak to be their local pharmacist. And when they went to Ranch Pharmacy to pick up their prescription, they often picked up a birthday card or gift for a loved one at the same time. That's because Ranch Pharmacy was attached to Linda's Hallmark, which was operated by Lou's wife, Linda Kaducak. The Hallmark portion of the paired stores opened in 1981 and when the store moved from the location on Route 6 that most recently held the Channahon Pharmacy in 1992, the location became a Gold Crown Store.
The store is estimated to close its doors mid-August.
Linda Kaducak said residents have expressed disappointment about the closing of the store.
"They like coming in and finding a gift," she said.
But the store location came to be not only a one-stop-shop for gifts and pharmicudical needs, but also a location where the community gathered to catch up with Linda and Lou, who became fixtures in the community.
Residents do not have to completely say goodbye to Lou and his advice.
"My husband is going to continue to work at Jewel Osco," Linda said of the Minooka store. "He'll still be in touch with the community,"
The story of the gift shop and pharmacy began when Lou was 23 years old. The owner of the original Ranch Pharmacy wanted to add two additional locations. One of them was in Channahon. Lou decided to head the Channahon location and years later was able to purchase the business. They moved from the location further west on Route 6 to the current location in the early 1990s.
Linda Kaducak said running the business became challenging in the current economic times.
"It was pretty easy and a lot of fun until then," she said.
The couple is not giving up because of economics, thought. Instead they couple is retiring.
In 2011, the business was honored by Channahon Village President Joe Cook who presented the couple with the 2010 Fred Rittoff/George Sparagis Award for Business at the State of the Village Address.
Prescriptions can now be filled at the Minooka Jewel Osco and the phone line has already been transferred to that story. Every day, the store is holding unannounced sales and specials. Stay tuned to Patch to get alerts of special savings.