Radford Drug has been in business for over 96 years!

Radford Drug was created as a community pharmacy in 1929 by Mark Kirby located at 217 West Main Street in Radford, VA. In addition to being a full-service pharmacy, Radford Drug had a soda fountain and ice cream machine; this made the store a favorite hang-out for the youth of those times. Despite the Great depression through the 1930s and the Second World War in the 1940s, Mark Kirby ran a community cornerstone until his death in 1962. Mark's wife, Ruth Kirby, continued to operate the store until 1968 when another significant change emerged. 

In 1965, Mark Kirby's daughter, Shirley, married a man named Bill Armentrout. Bill happened to be a flourishing pharmacist in Front Royal at the time, and fate led Bill and Shirley to buy Radford Drug from Ruth Kirby in 1968. Bill operated the store at the original location until 1978 before changing to the current store location at 239 West Main Street (just a few doors down). 

Bill transformed the store throughout his tenure as owner, adding products such as gifts, greeting cards, snacks, and convenience items that elevated Radford Drug to new heights in the local community. The business ran strong until 1993, when major healthcare changes were implemented in the United States, mostly regarding health insurance regulations. That very same year, Bill made the decision to franchise with the Medicine Shoppe, which forced him to revert some of the momentous changes he had made at Radford Drug. 

In 1997, Bill traveled to see his son, Scott Armentrout, who was living in Fayetteville, NC. Scott had been a professional golfer at the time, and spent days playing the courses and circuits in the area. Scott gave up the greens, however, after Bill offered him to be the face of the next generation at Radford Drug. Scott and his wife Alice moved back to Radford in 1998 and Scott began working in the pharmacy under the new regulations from the government and the Medicine Shoppe franchise. 

Scott became acquainted with local pharmacist Jim Perkinson in 2000, and Jim explained to Scott his aspirations to open his own independent pharmacy after years of working in large chains. Scott had another idea, and the two of them came to a partnership agreement in order to buy the Medicine Shoppe from Bill, who was still the owner at the time. Scott and Jim implemented even more growth and changes to the store, including re-expanding the inside location, adding an extensive hardware section, and adding more compounding options to the store's medication list. 

Scott and Jim had been discussing a desire for independence from the Medicine Shoppe franchise throughout their partnership. While critical changes to the insurance industry forced Bill into the franchise 20 years prior, it would be more federal legislation that set them free in 2013. Scott and his father Bill dug up the old Radford Drug sign from the basement, knocked the dust off, and rehung it outside the day the changes were implemented. Radford Drug was independent once more!

Scott and Jim operated Radford Drug until Jim decided to retire in 2019, and sole ownership returned to the Armentrout family. Pharmacists Josh Owens and Emilie Tolliver helped Scott fill the gap, and pharmacist Jimmy Surratt became the pharmacist in charge in 2022. He has worked closely with Scott and the rest of the staff to create a cohesive and effective team. Scott has ensured Radford Drug stays heavily involved in the local community, and engages in outreach frequently. Radford Drug sells Radford High School football tickets in the Fall, has a free little library in-store, supports other local businesses, and sponsors many community events. 

In June of 2025, Scott's son, Zan Armentrout, returned to the city of Radford after living in Nashville, TN then Alexandria, VA. He worked as a pharmacy technician in a fertility specialty pharmacy and was a successful music teacher in both cities, but he felt he could continue to help uplift his local community as his family had by continuing the Armentrout legacy at Radford Drug. Zan began working with Scott in June of 2025, and hopes to continue to grow Radford Drug to create local healthcare that works for everyone!