The Founders and Brothers, Ike and Mike Katz of the Iconic Katz Drug Co.

Their iconic building still sits on a corner in Kansas City, Missouri

Pharmacies have come a long way since Ike and Mike Katz opened their first two drug stores in Kansas City, Missouri.

History of the Katz brothers

In 1892, Isaac “Ike” Katz and his family traveled from Ukraine to St. Paul, Minnesota. When Ike was 13, he dropped out of school to earn money. He started selling items like newspapers to Northern Railroad passengers. If items were tossed away, he would get them for reselling to the next group of passengers.

When Ike was in his early 20s, he and Mike moved to Kansas City, Missouri. They had opened fruit stands there, and interestingly, in 1914 after Union Station opened, the Katz brothers opened up two cigar stores close to Union Station.

In 1917, after World War I was declared, federal laws mandated stores to close at 6:00 p.m. unless their business was a pharmacy. The brothers decided to hire a pharmacist so they could keep it open.

The brothers were keen entrepreneurs with their business model, one which is effective today with being able to fill prescription drugs and sell groceries in a pharmacy. The Katz Drug…