It all started in January of 1980, in a gutted and renovated trailer placed at the corner of McKinley and East Washington streets. The trailer had been customized to house the newly founded Coats Pharmacy, allowing Donald Judd Smith to realize his dream – to dispense medicine and health-related items to the citizens of Coats, NC.
As the business grew over the course of the year, Donald made a well-calculated move. He purchased the lot next to Carlie C’s IGA and built a drug store. Since that time, the store has undergone several structural changes to increase floor space, not only to increase the pharmacy area but to make room for extensive gift offerings, as well as all manner of over-the-counter items.
Donald was quite proud of his accomplishments and was often heard to say, “Not bad for a little store in a bean field!”
Although Donald passed away in September of 2001, his legacy of caring for the customers in his community lives on. His daughter Diana has followed in his footsteps and continues to provide the personalized care and compassion that the folks in Coats, and the surrounding areas, have come to associate with trading at Coats Pharmacy.