Setting the Record Straight: The Century-Long Legacy of 513 N. Cayuga St.
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Our recent story on the upcoming closure of Kinney Drugs on March 5, 2026, sparked a wonderful conversation among our readers. Thanks to the eagle-eyed members of the NextDoor community, several historical inaccuracies in our original piece were brought to light.
To ensure the history of this neighborhood landmark is preserved accurately, we emailed staff at The Tompkins Center for History and Culture, who provided links and access to the archival materials and newspaper records cited below.
The Corrected Timeline
While a pharmacy has served this block since 1888, the story of the current building is one of mid-century modernization and local entrepreneurship.
The Building's Origin (1962): The current structure at 513 N. Cayuga St. was built in 1962 by the Giardano Construction Co. for the Tomar Corp (owned by Thomas and Mary Lonergan). It replaced their previous, smaller storefront at 507 N. Cayuga. At the time, it was a state-of-the-art facility featuring local quarry stone and a modern air-filtration system.
The Lonergan Era (1953–1975): Thomas Lonergan, an Albany College of Pharmacy graduate, purchased the North Side Pharmacy in 1953. He operated it for 23 years, overseeing the move to the "new" building in December 1962.
The Hill Drug Transition (1975–2005): In March 1975, the Lonergans sold the business to Reeder and Sally Gates, owners of Hill Drug Store. The location served the Fall Creek neighborhood under the Hill Drug banner for exactly 30 years.
The Kinney Arrival (2005–Present): Kinney Drugs officially entered the Ithaca market in October 2005 after acquiring the Hill Drug Store chain.
Our Sources
We are grateful to The Tompkins Center for History and Culture for providing access to these records:
“Pharmacy Now Open,” Ithaca Journal, Dec. 4, 1962.
“Pharmacy Purchased,” Ithaca Journal, March 25, 1975.
“Members in the News: Hill Drug Stores are now Kinney Drugs,” Ithaca Journal/ChamberGram, Oct. 5, 2005.
This pharmacy has truly become a place where the staff knows your name. Often they are already reaching for your prescription before you even get to the counter. We welcome you to share your memories in the comments.
