SUMMITCOUNTY — The Drug Store in Breckenridge, which opened in 1877 and harkens back to an earlier day of soda fountains and house calls, changed hands this month.

Owner Rick Bly recently sold the business to Summit Mountain Rentals after running the store at 111 Ski Hill Road, across from Town Hall, for more than 20 years.

“I had all the fun I could stand,” he said.

Bly, 65, first purchased the store in 1971. Complete with soda fountain, pharmacy and liquor department, the business was a popular local hang-out.

“We had a rhythm of life here that was much more desirable,” he said. “The soda fountain was a great thing — people would get (sodas) while waiting for their prescription.”

He ran The Drug Store 14 years, sold it, then purchased the business again in 2001. The pharmacy closed in 2002 because it was becoming expensive and large chain businesses had attracted much of the market share.

“We did more of our prescriptions after 8 (p.m.) than during the day, because they only came to the little independent after hours,” Bly said, adding that the prices weren’t any different.

His favorite times at The Drug Store were those when there was a genuine sense of community, a feeling that he knew most everyone in town.

“It seems like the pace of life has accelerated considerably, and I don’t know if it’s necessarily good,” he said.

But the increase of medical resources locally is positive, he said, adding that formerly the only doctor for Breckenridge drove up from Fairplay each Tuesday. For emergencies, Bly helped drive the ambulance to Kremmling.

He is retiring but will remain a local. He plans to continue his $7.20 per month job as a weather watcher for the National Weather Service, he said.

The Drug Store opened originally on Main Street. It moved to its present location on Ski Hill Road in 1972. The store now sells over-the-counter medication and other general-store items.

Summit Mountain Rentals is adjacent to the store. Owners Mark and Mary Waldman purchased the store in part because their business has grown and they can use the space. About one-third of the store has been converted to offices.

“We’re going to run the drug store because it works well. It’s a fun thing to have,” Mark Waldman said.

The purchase was announced last week. The grand opening will be Oct. 31, with no sales tax on everything in the store for locals. Greeting cards, which are priced up to $4.49, will all be on sale for $1 each.

Halloween candy will be available for children.

“Taxes have been a big topic of discussion this election season, so we thought we’d do something to ease taxes for Summit County residents,” Waldman said in a press release.

The Waldmans bought Hotel Frisco in 2002 and have since expanded their business with vacation home rentals in 2004, acquiring SMR in 2006 and White Cloud Lodging in 2007. They have a staff of 14 full-time and three part-time employees.

Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.