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.