Royal Pharmacy New Orleans – The Mystery Pharmacy

December 2019 update!

Retro Roadmapper Jen Z Reports:

"Royal pharmacy in New Orleans is open. Went in today and bought a coke. Not a super busy place as the amount of merchandise is sparse . But it’s a time capsule for sure."

There also is an unofficial Facebook Page for the Royal Pharmacy where you can see more photos people have taken!

ORIGINAL 2013 POST:

Is it a ghost? Or a Retro Roadmap mirage, imagined while meandering home after having a cocktail on Bourbon Street? Mod Betty isn't quite sure about the Royal Pharmacy on the corner of Royal and Ursulines. Except for the fact that she loves it.

We spotted the fabulous vintage coke sign from a distance, with a corona of light surrounding it like a halo. OK so I "wax rhapsodic", but seriously, this was like a sight from a different time and place, just around the corner from where we were staying. So of course we had to check it out!

From a distance the interior of the pharmacy was lit up with an eerie glow, but as we pressed our noses to the glass door to peer in we were met with a cheery sight. While there were some clues to indicate that the pharmacy was not something  that had been beamed into the 21st century from almost 100 years ago, there were plenty of well preserved artifacts from the bygone era to give us pause and make me want to know more about this corner shop.

While we didn't need any Wynnbury Facial Soap or Magnolia Balm, I was so hoping we could shop here once the store opened up - but it never did (at least during our short stay in NOLA.) Color me disappointed.

I asked at the corner store a block down when The Royal Pharmacy was open for business, and the gent behind the counter said he had maybe seen it open 3 times in the past 3 years. Not sure if that is because of his schedule, or simply because of the laid back attitude of those living in "The Big Easy."

Upon returning home, my calls to the pharmacy were never answered (and those of you who know how much I loathe phoning know it was a big deal for me to even call!) Yelp indicates that the same family has run the pharmacy since 1935, though that site indicates that the store is permanently closed.

Our pal Jeffrey who runs the Strange True Tours of New Orleans asserts that the place IS open, and even notes that they filmed some of the 1995 version of the move "Lolita" here, with Jeremy Irons.

So while I can't let you dear readers know "one way or t'other" whether the Pharmacy actually is open, I want so dearly to believe  that the weekday luncheon club described in this My New Orleans article from 2011 is still going on in full force, and we just missed it.

Retro Roadmap Readers, if you're ever in New Orleans, please do some scouting for us and let us know if the pharmacy is closed or not, we'd love to know!