Pill boxes and medicine bottles line the walls of theBrookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business ofthe Month for February, a 20-year-old pharmacy coming off a verystrong year.

The honorary plaque was presented on Thursday to LaRue Baker, ownerof LaRue’s Discount Drugs on Highway 51 North, a pharmacy comingoff a multi-million-dollar sales year in 2010 and keeping pace in2011. The small store’s success is built on relationships, hesaid.

“We offer more personal service. We become family with ourcustomers,” Baker said. “The pharmacy is the most accessible formof health care. People can talk to us when they can’t talk to thedoctor.”

LaRue’s Discount Drugs has come a long way since 1991, when Bakerstruck out on his own after working at Super D Drugs for eightyears. He started out alone with a part-time clerk and no sales,kicking off his solo career by writing 12 prescriptions on thefirst day while competing with big retail pharmacies.

“We weren’t sure if we could make it,” Baker said.

Now, Baker employs eight other people – a pharmacist, fourfull-time workers and three part-timers. He gives credit to themfor the store’s success.

“You have to surround yourself with good people, and I’vesurrounded myself with great people,” he said.

The store is still small, family-owned and independent, but it’spushing against the walls.

“We’ve got a piece of property next door that one day we hope tobuild on and expand,” Baker said.

Chamber President Alvin Hoover said the store’s longevity andsuccess make it a great member of the city’s businesscommunity.

“For a small, family-owned business to have the success he’s hadover the years definitely makes him worthy of this award,” hesaid.