44 | JULY 27 • 2023
O
ne recent Thursday night, there was an
unusual sight at an Oak Park drugstore.
To the welcome surprise and delight of the
customers, a man and some teenage boys sat on the
floor, whipped out a guitar and started “jamming.
”
Lately, the Lincoln Rx Pharmacy on the corner of
Lincoln and Coolidge in Oak Park, a staple of the
community for decades, has been the location for a
number of unusual sights!
HISTORY
The drug and liquor store has been around since the
1950s and was opened by Julius Passerman, a Jewish
fellow from Oak Park. He was proud to be perhaps
the first in Michigan to spell out his company name
with his phone number: 543-7847 — LI DRUGS.
Julius’ son, Alan, can barely remember life before
the store. Alan, 81, a now-retired Commerce
Township resident and lifelong member of
Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park, said, “I
remember building the fixtures in the aisles with my
dad before he opened. I was always there working
with my father, since about age 12. It was my life for
a good many years.
”
Alan fondly remembers how they originally just
sold “drugs and sundries” and how his greatest plea-
sure was years later, bringing his own kids to help out
in the store. Alan proudly relates how his now-
deceased oldest son Brian was an amputee and vol-
unteer firefighter whose positive attitude and outgo-
ing personality was so noteworthy that store patrons
would often bring in their friends to meet him.
Sam Loussia, 70, of Commerce Township took
over the store in 1990.
“I had a great relationship with the Jewish com-
BUSINESS
New Jewish owner adds
kosher food, bug-free greens
and delicious cholent.
New Vibe
at
Lincoln Rx
Pharmacy
ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Oak Park drugstore
RIGHT: Marwan Isa and
Mendel Poss pose at the
liquor counter.
BELOW: Another view
of the store.