Plural of drugstore; retail shops primarily selling medications and pharmaceuticals, often combined with general merchandise and a soda fountain or snack counter.
From 'drugstore' (American term from 'drug' + 'store'). Became especially common in American English in the 20th century, contrasting with British 'chemist' or 'pharmacy.'
Drugstores were the heart of American social life—people met at the soda fountain, kids got ice cream, and the pharmacist was a respected community figure. Now many have disappeared, replaced by big-box pharmacies!
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