While today's modern pharmacies have dominated the drug store landscape, there are a few independent retailers still doing business in local communities. One freshly minted store is Garden City Chemists, which is opening this week at 152 Seventh Street.

In some ways, Garden City Chemists is a throwback to the days when customers and pharmacists developed close, personal bonds – when making house calls was just part of doing business.

Anthony Bambace, pharmacist/owner, plans to make house calls to Garden City residents who are ill, shut-ins or simply cannot venture out. They also provide free delivery if you just want your meds dropped off.

In other ways, Garden City Chemists is as up-to-date as any giant drug store, albeit with a personal touch. Bambace's big message: "All insurances are welcome here and the co-pays through your insurance are the same here as they are at any pharmacy." He accepts 30- and 90-day supplies.

That is a huge distinction compared with some other independent drug stores that either don't take insurance or accept only certain plans. Bambace said his store accepts them all, including the popular FSA (Flexible Spending Account).

"I am here for the people of Garden City. I am here to help you," Bambace said.

Garden City Chemists is a completely new business. It has no affiliation with the previous drug store that inhabited the same address. When Bambace signed a lease in March 2010 he gutted the interior, a five-month renovation that included new lighting, fixtures, flooring and shelving. "Everything is brand new," he said.

Bambace, a St. John's University graduate, used to own drug stores in Manhattan and is well versed in the retail field. He acknowledges that competing with the giant drug stores is no easy feat for an independent, but he also knows they can't compete with him on personal service or expertise.

"My goal is to build a close relationship with my customers. You develop individual relationships and through that you get better health care," he said. "A pharmacist's relationship with a customer is a very important part of daily health care."

Bambace encourages residents to bring in their meds to his store so he can run them through a drug interaction software program that can identify possible side effects or reactions. "I encourage people to come here who have questions," he said. "For the people of Garden City I am here to do anything they need; for the seniors who can't get out, I'll go to them."

Bambace said customers whose medications are registered at other drug stores can come to Garden City Chemists and he can arrange the transfer. "Some people are baffled by the transfer process of prescriptions," he said.

Beyond the medicines, Garden City Chemists carries women's cosmetics, specialty creams and lotions, men's specialty shaving and hair care products, toys, jewelry and baby care products. "People think with the bigger stores that they are always cheaper, but that is not true," he said. "Our prices are very competitive. We do everything the big stores do but better and on a personal level."

Garden City Chemists is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 516-747-1516 or email gardencitychemists@gmail.com.