General Info

About SMHP Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy, originally founded as Santa Monica Drug Company, opened on October 8th, 1944. Owned and operated by Norman and Mary Litvak the store opened as a full service pharmacy in downtown Santa Monica on the corner of 4th and Broadway. Equipped with a soda fountain, prescription counter, cosmetic department, magazines, cigarettes, cigars, liquor, and candy, the pharmacy offered convenience to the people of Santa Monica. Not long after the store opened a representative from Standard Homeopathic came to Norman with a box of odd-looking bottles filled with tiny pellets and tablets asking if Norman would be interested in selling them. Fortunately, Norman was familiar with the remedies due to studies he had in pharmacy school at the University of Buffalo. Confident with their knowledge of these items Mary and Norman felt their customers would benefit from these medicines. Beginning with one four-foot shelf of remedies they introduced homeopathy to the community. In 1951, the pharmacy stopped selling alcoholic beverages. In the 1960's the pharmacy stopped selling tobacco products and narcotic drugs. Snacks became healthier. In 1967, the Rights of Domain gave the city permission to move the pharmacy across the street. It was at this location the variety of homeopathic remedies increased. As the remedy shelves increased the dispensing of prescription drugs decreased. The Litvaks realized that although prescription drugs were needed at times, all too often they were prescribed unnecessarily. They found that the patients of doctors recommending less toxic, more natural products maintained a better sense of well-being and a sense of vibrancy. Little by little the store made major changes. Doing what they felt was in the best interest of their customers Mary and Norman were pioneering a new kind of pharmacy. They cared about their customers and took the time to listen, offering suggestions, encouraging changes toward a healthier life style, and making referrals to those physicians who practiced natural medicine. Mary and Norman's eldest son, Don, began to help out in the store on Saturdays, the store's busiest day. Customers would drive from as far away as San Diego and Santa Barbara. In 1986 Don retired from his career as an Air Traffic Control supervisor and began to work full time in the store. Working side-by-side with his parents Don assumed the management of the pharmacy, while at the same time learning about the products and their uses. As the business grew so did the number of family members involved in the family business.. In 1988, Don's son, Steven, came to work full time after selling a successful restaurant, which he owned and operated for several years. Having an excellent business sense, and a genuine interest in the field it did not take long for him to further the development of the store's products and services. Always a stickler for convenience he installed a mail order system in order to serve customers throughout the country. Don's daughter, Debbie, began to work part-time while in college. She serves in customer service, handling telephone customers and offering suggestions about dietary habits. As the store flourished, additional help was needed. In 1989 Steve's wife, Kim, left a position in banking and began working full time in the pharmacy. Her meticulous record keeping and organizational skills were put to good use. The need for uniformity and the growth of the staff led her to produce the employee manuals and develop training procedures. Considered the visionaries of the store, both Steve and Kim focus on education. Guided by Dr. Trevor Cook, they received their diplomas in homeopathy from the British Institute in 1992. Steven and Kim pursue educating the staff and community through store seminars. In 1992 Mary and Norman's other son, Bob, began working full-time at the pharmacy. Previously he worked twenty years providing programs and services in youth camps and community c