Cambria Drug & Gift

What used to be a small town drug store with a dedicated and professional staff has slipped into indifference.

I dont know if there was a change in ownership, or they just got their act together. But due to recent health challenges, i have been doing a lot of business here lately, and have to say that they are a top notch operation now. I am very pleased to call Cambria Drug & Gift my drug store now.

Okay so I wandered in looking for disposable razors to shave my legs and pits, but I would rather go au natural than pay 14.99 for three Venus razors! OMG, I get the small town, high price thing, but this is just blatantly ripping off folks! Not for me, headed to San Francisco, so my hairy self will fit right in with that vibe!

This sundry shop on Main Street has all the charm and cutesiness you want from ANY small shop on ANY Main Street in ANY town. On the outside. Set foot in here and you leave Smalltown USA and arrive directly on Planet Weird.
The shop itself is fine — there appeared to be many locals in line to fill and pick up prescriptions, and on a Monday morning it looked like any other drug store. BF and I were probably the only tourists in there. In terms of tourist appeal, this is a great stop for picking up things you may have forgotten when packing like toothpaste or deodorant. Prices aren’t desirable, but neither is not brushing those teethies during your romantic long weekend away. A few years back, this was also one of a handful of locations in town that proudly stocked the novel The Haunting of Cambria by Richard Taylor, a delightfully spooky book set in the town and full of locations and businesses you’ll be familiar with if you know the area (including a few no longer around like The Brambles Dinner House). Highly recommended!
Twice over the years though I’ve popped in for simple things, and it’s never a smooth transaction. They most definitely move in slow motion, and their happy demeanors disappear when they see an unfamiliar face approaching with purchases (which makes no sense to me — I’m here to buy deodorant and a Diet Pepsi, not burn down your town and kidnap your children. Commerce is good, peeps!) My most recent visit was a doozie. I saw the I HEART CAMBRIA monkey in their window and thought it would be a cool souvenir but would up more charmed by a small ceramic wall hanging depicting a beach scene with the town name — it was just a better fit, and would be a happy reminder of the town I love hanging on the wall back home. I handed the item to my cashier and her previously smiling face went blank. She asked me where I found it, and I pointed to an area not far behind me and in clear eyeshot of all the cashiers. She walked over to the display and then walked back to find a manager I assume — no idea on the price, and apparently no quick reference guide. Once she found the price, she moved in slow motion ringing it up on the register. She seemed to sense my growing irkyness and halfheartedly asked how my morning was going. I was pleasantly surprised and said «Fine, thank you!», and her response to that was to laugh at me and say «That’s funny…». And there went my nice morning.
My little souvenir ended up costing $ 9.99 which made me choke but whatever — I wanted it so I paid up and hauled buns out the door. I kinda hope I never have a reason to return. It’s endlessly frustrating and weird how half the businesses and shop owners here are incredibly welcoming and kind, and the other half are unfortunately snobby and bizarre. If there’s an alternative anywhere nearby for sundries, I’m not aware of it. Take my advice — pack really well before you leave. If not, prepare for an adventure. An overpriced one.

More of a gift shop and pharmacy for locals. It took 10 mins just to find some deoderant and shaving cream, that were in the back on a tiny shelf. Disappointing for sundries. I found it odd that there were several empty shelves on the back wall.
One would think they would have more selection, when there’s room! Hmm…

My doctors office called for two days but never got an answer. I tried several times also. No answer, no message just a click after 10 – 12 rings. I’ll be taking my prescriptions somewhere more reliable.

We called many times to refill prescriptions during business hours and there is no answer — not even a recording. This is no way to run a business, especially one dealing with health and safety.

I came here to get some topical medicine and this was the closest place I could find for it. The prices for the items are kind of expensive but since my family and I were on vacation, we decided that we needed it.
The store was is a good size. They had a lot of gifts and a variety of stuff.
There wasn’t a lot of people working here and they seemed really busy with customers coming in and out. We just came in and got what we needed and leave.

Caters to the locals… which they should, but not to the cost of visitors.
Not nice to us getting a few over the counter things, but was to all the others that got prescriptions.
And she wouldn’t even give us a bag?! Wait, half of your store is touristy gift ware.

UPDATE — I had to change the rating down from 5 stars. Since my original review, I believe they are under new management and now they are next to impossible to reach by phone. It can take up to an hour of re-​dialing before someone answers. I appreciate that they are busy, but I’m wary of any business that holds its customers in such low regard that they will listen to a phone ring and ring and not even pick it up. Just a greeting and «Would you hold, please?» would be something, but apparently that is too much to ask. I’m sad about this development, after being a happy and enthusiastic customer for almost two decades.