Member Spotlight: Corner Drug
Three Generations, One Mission: Corner Drug’s Ongoing Legacy
In the heart of historic downtown Woodland, California, stands a pharmacy that has become more than just a place to pick up prescriptions. Corner Drug has been a staple in Yolo County for nearly 130 years, and its story is one of legacy, community, and evolution. Today, it’s owned by Sara Shelley, Erik Daniells, and Kristina Beggs, who are committed to carrying forward a deeply rooted family tradition while leading the pharmacy into the future.
“We’re just stewards of this business,” said Erik. “People feel a strong sense of ownership in this store. They’ll walk in and tell us they used to come here as a kid, or they remember paying bills here when it was the only store around. That kind of history means something, and we take our responsibility seriously.”
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Corner Drug’s origin dates back to the 1890s, when it was first established as the New York Store, a dry goods business. By 1897, it became a pharmacy and has remained one ever since. Over the years, its owners have included pharmacists, physicians, and local families who shaped the direction of the business. In the 1980s, Karl Hanke became the sole owner after starting as a delivery boy in the 1940s. His daughter Lisa would later take over the pharmacy and manage it until passing the baton to her own daughter, Sara, in 2020.
Sara represents the second generation of women in her family to serve the Woodland community through pharmacy. A graduate of the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy, she began working alongside her mother Lisa shortly after graduation. By 2016, she and her husband Erik had taken over daily operations. Today, they work closely with their co-owner Kristina to preserve the soul of Corner Drug while ensuring it remains relevant and responsive to the needs of today’s patients.
One of the ways the team has done that is through technology. “We’ve leaned into automation and innovation,” Erik said. “We’ve had a ScriptPro robot for years, and we do a lot of compliance packaging and bubble packing, especially for nursing homes and patients who need medication synchronization. We also deliver throughout Yolo County, which is something Corner Drug has done since the 1930s.” In addition to ScriptPro, Corner Drug utilizes a SynMed robot, Eyecons, and recently added a Vivid workstation to further streamline their operations and enhance accuracy.
But their impact goes far beyond automation. The team at Corner Drug is active in the community, attending local events, sponsoring the summer children’s theater program, and donating a downtown window display to feature rotating nonprofit organizations. They also take part in local Pride celebrations, health fairs, and resource events. Their community-first mindset is baked into everything they do.
“We always try to give back to the community that’s supported us for so long,” Erik said. “Even the design of our store reflects that. We restored hand-painted signage and added vintage-style gold leaf lettering in our windows to honor the past while creating a welcoming front-end experience for today’s customers.”
Corner Drug has been an IPC member for decades. Sara and the team value the buying power and purchasing strategy support they receive as part of the cooperative. “Sara is a smart buyer,” Erik shared. “She and our staff are very intentional about finding the best deals, and IPC helps us do that. We’ve also leaned on them for OTC partnerships and front-end display ideas in the past. They really help us stretch every dollar.”
The team also appreciates IPC’s commitment to building community. “It’s not just about the business side,” Erik said. “We’ve met so many amazing pharmacy owners through IPC. That network matters. It helps you feel like you’re not alone in this.”
And in today’s pharmacy environment, that connection matters more than ever. Corner Drug has faced its share of challenges, from shrinking reimbursements and rising operational costs to staffing shortages and increased patient needs. But Erik and Sara are determined to keep Corner Drug open, thriving, and patient-centered.
“This industry is tough right now, and we’ve seen so many pharmacies close,” Erik said. “But our community sees the value of what we do. We have bilingual staff, we offer delivery and packaging, and we go out of our way to build relationships with prescribers and caregivers. All of that helps keep us grounded in patient care.”
They’re also politically active. Sara and the team have been working to pass legislation in California that would support independent pharmacies. They attend advocacy days, speak with lawmakers, and partner with CPHA to make their voices heard. “We can’t be passive,” Erik said. “Change isn’t going to happen unless we get involved.”
That same commitment extends to their approach with patients. “We want to be more than a transaction,” he said. “We check in with bubble pack patients every month. We call prescriber offices when something doesn’t look right. Our pharmacists go out into the community to meet with prescribers. It takes extra time, but that’s how you build trust.”
At Corner Drug, that trust has carried across generations. “We’re proud to still be here,” Erik said. “And we’re going to keep showing up for our community, just like they’ve shown up for us.”
