Not a week had gone by since the grand opening of Stars Pharmacy when owner Sami Boraie walked into the building on a Thursday morning to broken glass littering the floor.
According to officers from the Guadalupe Police Department investigating the scene, two men with clearly identifiable tattoos were captured on closed-circuit television smashing the window of the pharmacy with a socket wrench sometime between the hours of 5:30 and 6 a.m. on Jan. 14.
The thieves made two visits 15 minutes apart, according to police. They rifled through the medicine and cracked open the register, but with a wink and a smile, Boraie assured that the alleged criminals didn’t find the narcotics they were looking for.
Despite the break-in, Boraie remains optimistic and upbeat. In early January, Boraie opened Stars Pharmacy. It was a much welcome addition to a medically under-served Guadalupe, a city whose last pharmacy closed months ago, leaving residents to figure out how to get to the closest pharmacy in Santa Maria 12 miles away.
It doesn’t seem like a great distance, but it is for the people who are unable to drive. Boraie said some patients of his told him that they were unable to make the drive and had to rely on bus transportation, which adds an extra effort to the task of getting medicine.
Guadalupe’s last pharmacy located at 4581 10th St. was heavily relied on and practically a short walk away for most people in town. After more than 30 years in operation, owner Alex Irvine retired and closed up shop.
“This community needed a pharmacy,” Boraie said. “That’s why I decided to open a pharmacy here.”
Without it, Boraie said that some people who are at-risk for drug intoxication are more apt to rely on illegal drugs, rather than find the help they need. He can even dispense medication to help with overdoses.
Originally from Egypt, Boraie moved to Canada 15 years ago. He lived in Toronto and then Vancouver, where he operated a pharmacy. Four years ago, he moved to California.
He spent a lot of money getting set up in Guadalupe, obtaining a multitude of certifications needed in order to open a pharmacy. He received lots of help along the way, including from the mayor, City Council, and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), who advocated on Boraie’s behalf to get Medi-Cal coverage at his pharmacy.
This is important for Guadalupe because at least 60 percent of the city’s population is covered by Medi-Cal, Boraie says.
“Once we set up, we’ll hit the ground running,” Boraie said.
Star Pharmacy is located at 830 Guadalupe St. and is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.
Staff Writer David Minsky wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Jan 21-28, 2016.