Editor’s note: Lisa Mills is the author of this report.

Downtown Des Arc was full of parked cars and people on Friday (June 12). Everyone was at Palace Drug Store celebrating their 100th birthday (1926-2026).

A delicious BBQ meal was provided for guests, as well as a chance to win some great prizes. Kids enjoyed a bouncy house while parents enjoyed shopping for gifts that were discounted at 26%. Current owners, Peyton and Ashley Harvey, enjoyed greeting long-time customers and other guests. They also enjoyed sharing history of the drug store.

The drug store first opened as a “family” business when owner Dr. James Cranford Gilliam saw patients in his office in the back. His son, pharmacist Grover Cleveland Gilliam, ran the pharmacy in the front.

Grover’s sister-in-law, Madie King, sometimes assisted Dr. Gilliam and was also the sales clerk in the drug store. Grover also trained his brother-in-law, Marvin King, to assist him, eventually meeting requirements for him to be grandfathered in as a pharmacist.

There was also a soda fountain enjoyed by all ages as the pharmacy became “the” gathering place on Saturday nights.

After Grover died, Marvin and Madie continued operating the store and eventually purchased it from Grover’s family. The King family included daughters Gloria and Linwood, granddaughter Nina Lynn, and nephew County Judge Lawrence Holloway, who worked in the store.

In 1992, Marvin and Madie’s great-granddaughter, Kristen and her husband, pharmacist Ray Harvey, purchased the business and operated the store for 31 years. In 2023, Ray sold the store to his nephew, Peyton Harvey and wife, Ashley.

“If only these walls could talk!” said Peyton.