By ANDY HOBBS, The Mirror

For 57 years, the Family Pharmacy brought mom-and-pop prescription service to Federal Way.

The cozy pharmacy closed its doors Nov. 28 after being sold to the Omnicare company. Located at First Avenue South and 308th Street for the past 25 years, pharmacist Gary Heffner and his wife, Ann, owned and ran Family Pharmacy for most of that time. He officially retired about six months ago, but Ann hopes to find work as a technician at another pharmacy.

Loyal customers always returned for the personalized service. The pharmacy also mixed many medicines on site — an increasingly rare practice amid the dominance of corporate chains like Rite-Aid, Heffner said.

“The secret of success was to treat customers like they’re our friends,” said Gary Heffner, who sold the business to Bridgeport Pharmacies about two and a half years ago.

“It’s sad. We’re one of the last independents in Federal Way,” said Ann Heffner, recalling two customers who playfully argued recently over who had been coming to Family Pharmacy longer.

Alicia Sandoval, a technician at Family Pharmacy for five years, also grew close with the Heffners. She remembers raiding the pharmacy’s candy shelves as a kid. Now she sees students from Lake Grove Elementary pack the place after school.

Robert Youngs, a customer for nearly 16 years, arrived to get a prescription Tuesday, the day before the pharmacy closed. With his doctor right next store in the Federal Way Medical Center, Youngs was saddened to learn he’d need to go somewhere else for his medicine.

“It’s been fun watching you grow up,” Youngs said to technician Sandoval as he left, also sending a farewell to the Heffners. “Say hello to Gary and Ann for me.”