In the olden days, before massive corporations pushed small mom-and-pop stores out of business, almost every neighborhood had its own independent neighborhood pharmacy. Many of these functioned as mini-department stores, having a wide selection of goods to meet the needs of the community: cookware, clothing, and gifts, just to name a few categories. Webster's Pharmacy seems to be one of these almost extinct businesses that has miraculously survived in Altadena since 1926. I was on my way to Bulgarinia Gelato when I noticed the cool retro signage of Webster's and decided to pop in to check it out. There's a large, free parking lot in the back, as well as street parking in the front. I was pleasantly suprised to find not only a fully stocked pharmacy but an absolutely adorable gift shop featuring BOOKS and other gifts. This includes a section devoted to ANTHONY BOURDAIN (a hero to many Yelpers, despite his utter disdain for Elite Yelpers, may he RIP). There are holiday candies, slippers, Christmas tree ornaments and pretty much something for everyone (there was even a section for folks that like to use "colorful metaphors", as Spock would say.) I'm not sure if the gifts are stocked year round but if you need something last minute for the holidays, Webster's can certainly help. Most items are full price but occasional discounts apply. Long live Webster's! read more

See all

First timer to the pharmacy, great Altadena location and access to parking... very nice experience! Went in for a shingles vaccination, I hate needles, but Gwyn made me comfortable and administered the shot with ease. All that worry for nothing. Additionally, Erika and the team were a pleasure to do business with. Unless something goes very wrong, I have found my pharmacy! read more

They have an interesting selection of cards and small gifts. Post office can take letters and sell stamps which is helpful but not a full service post office. I appreciate them taking on this job. read more

I just love a small mom and pop pharmacy. They have a good selection of unique and local gifts including books and toys for little ones. Their building is still open for business post Fire. Everything around them is burnt down, serves as a reminder Altadena needs your business during this hard time. Stop by and grab a cute gift, support the community read more

Great service, great prices. So glad they survived the fire! We've used them for 32 years and will continue to do so and to recommend Webster's to our friends. read more

Hi I'm writing this review to give 10 stars to Gwen an amazing employe who deserves all the best . Helpful friendly me my family all highly recommended this parmacy thank you Webster and thank you qwen for your excellent service you are the best read more

Definitely not your big commercial pharmacy. I've been coming to Webster's with my grandparents since I was a kid and now that I moved back it's my pharmacy. Very personalized friendly service. I love the delivery service and use it for all our meds. I needed a bill of my meds for a year for tax purposes and they got it all written up, printed, and delivered within a couple of hours. Easy to reach by phone unlike most pharmacies. Convenient for a last minute gift/wrapping. Wonderful Altadena specific products. The nostalgia alone is worth a visit. read more

Leaving a great review to help counteract Meredith's hateful bigotry. I've had amazing service here. I appreciate the fact that they've cultivated a progress space that welcomes ALL people. I appreciate the inclusion of queer people like myself and their Black Pride. Haters gonna hate but they also likely lead miserable lives. I'm grateful for mom and pops that take a hard stance against this kind of hate. read more

Webster's Community Pharmacy is a small business that loves its community ( Altadena) and is beloved by those they serve. The staff at WBC are caring, compassionate, patient, knowledgeable, and make customer service and satisfaction their highest priority. I am reminded of this every time I call in for a prescription refill, or walk in to pick one up, and they say, hello Mr. Becerra, and ask about my family. Webster's is indeed a "community pharmacy" and I hope they continue in that vein for years to come. read more

I live it here very homely how it used to be. Great staff I was able to get my shots and they also have little extras like jelly's gifts CBD stuff cool altadena gear I like it read more

Websters is such a treasure for Altadena. The place has multiple useful services (postal, pharmacy, drug store...) but is also jam packed with incredible surprises. I'm always able to find the quick essentials and never disappointed when looking for a gift or treat for myself. Love this place and the awesome folks running it. read more

Love this place and the fantastic owners! Great store and great service to the community.

Been going here for years...Always personable and helpful. They know you by name and go above & beyond with prescription deliveries. They will continue to be my 1st choice for a pharmacy and other knickknacks... Thanks! read more

A real jewel in Altadena. Like an old school drug store that sells gifts and candy as well as a great pharmacy I will never use a Walgreens again. read more

I have 14, prescriptions and my wife 5 more. Webster's knows me and trests me like a friend. Recently a prescription was received after Pharmacist Michael Miller had closed the pharmacy and was home. It was Saturday, which meant the prescription would not be filled until Monday. My wife was in great pain. Michael came back to fill the order Great service. Webster' s also carries a wonderful line of seasonal and holiday gifts and decor. They also carry many books of interest to the community. There is also a great line of greeting cards. Webster's is a wonderful community asset. read more

I grew up in, and currently live in, north pasadena and I am embarrassed to say I cannot remember the last time I was in Webster's. After my visit today they have a new regular. I went in for a last minute birthday card and walked out with a card and a gift! I was blown away by the wonderful variety of things they had and am honestly excited for my next visit. read more

Webster's has taken care of me my whole life! I've been coming here for all my pharmaceutical needs since I was a kid - even with a rite aid and other large stores in the area. They are a staple of Altadena! The staff is always lovely and they always welcome me by name and have my prescriptions ready to go. Highly recommend and it's very much a part of Altadena culture to support small local businesses. read more

Nostalgia runs through me every time I enter this store. Whether it's to pay my grandparents' gas bill, buy a small gift, or indulge in snacks for my family; this place is an Altadena Gem! Their pharmacy is a quick and convenient location for me as I can pick up things for my grandparents or myself in a jiffy. The staff is always super sweet and you will always find something to look at here. It's been around since way before I was born and I hope it stays that way for many, many more years! read more

This is not only a lovely pharmacy, it is a marvelous gift shop. Websters offers a wide variety of culturally diverse items for the shopping pleasure of white, black, and brown communities. When you are looking for that perfect gift for all of your friends and family, please run, don't walk, to Websters Community Pharmacy. It is always a pleasure to shop there. read more

This pharmacy says they are open till 6 pm Monday thru Saturday - NOT- they close shop at 555 pm - sucks when you are trying to beat traffic from work and the doors are locked ! No consideration for their customers at all read more

Went here December 2019. They have beautiful Christmas ornaments. Some unique. Items in their store are very interesting. Lots of fun finds here. Prices are a little high but that's expected for this type of shop. read more

Webster's is a part of growing up in Altadena. The store has changed a lot since the 90s. The multiple levels are a thing of the past, making the entire store about 1/3 of the original size. Today, there is a pharmacy, a post office and several isles that are a mixture of convenience and Altadena culture. If you want a sweatshirt/magnet/license plate frame that says "ALTADENA" then Webster's is still the brick and mortar that is open to sell you what you have been looking for. In the last 20 years, a lot has changed in Altadena. It's always nice to see some of the landmarks still existing. read more

Great community pharmacy with good service. Bonus when you go it's also a cute boutique with lovely and fun gift items. Plus a great selection of cards! If you are anywhere near this is definitely the place to go! I have never had any issues with their closing times. It's always been straightforward. read more

Webster's Pharmacy is now under new ownership. The new owner's used to own Fair Oaks Pharmacy (if you have been then you can imagine how much better Webster's Pharmacy is now!). have noticed a HUGE difference in the customer service. The customer service used to be horrible, but now it has made a complete 180. The staff is now welcoming, knowledgable, and much faster! The gift shop and gift card portion of the Pharmacy is fabulous! Since the new owners took over a couple months ago, I have bought a purse, scarf, wallet, jewelry and plenty of gift cards and candy. They are also having events now. Last week I attended "Fancy Food Truck Fridays." There were 4 food trucks in the back parking lot and they were handing out coupons to the store for Valentine's Day weekend to customer's. It was such a fun event and something that Altadena has never seen. From now on, I will never go elsewhere for my prescriptions, toiletries, medical supplies, gift cards, and gift items!! read more

I love this place so much! They have the best gifts for all ages and they offer complementary gift wrap! The employees are very kind too. It feels like a small town pharmacy. So happy to have them in my community. read more

Websters is an Altadena landmark. Actually, the great, great Webster was an architect and his interesting mix of contemporary work can still be found if you know where to look. If you have never been to Webster's, it's located on Lake avenue across from another landmark building on Mariposa. Mariposa has its amazing history too, but this post is about Websters. Lake Avenue starts getting steep in that spot, notably where the old train used to kick into gear as it made its way to the foot of the Echo Mountain funicular. Websters is a long building, a bit like a train, originally with each of the 6 buildings connected by an open segment wall with steps to the next level. Conceivably, you could once walk the various tiers from booze to toys. And wow. That toy section had a stellar candy selection. A collection that kept many local dentists in business. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Websters inches closer to that with every Webster generation. It's that age old story about kids slowly draining the life out of something started by its hard driven founder. The current Webster's father ran that place like a top even though he was not the founder. He had his little office in one of the rear entry ways and he had a veritable empire. But rumor has it that the family and extended family have fought over this and that (i.e. money) and a cloud hovers over the building. The once unique main connecting through-way has been boarded and segregated the segments in an effort to divide the various businesses and family ownerships. Ugh. That said, other Yelpers here reflect the tangible nuance of a time past. Let's hope that the current family doesn't take it to a permanent past. read more

This is a very interesting little place that is very convenient since they sell all kinds of odd and ends and I can get stamps here! I do have 2 complaints: 1. The smell...it smells really old/musty which is very unpleasant 2. Their products are a little pricey although for a last minute gift it works fine read more

Webster's was a bullward of the community for decades. And then the family ownership structure changed and the individual departments ended up with walls between them necessitating individual entrances. Sigh. Really too bad. On the other hand, the pharmacy, liquor store, stationers are still nicely private little enterprises and one cannot help but appreciate what they still provide to the community in terms of service. read more

More like a cute boutique than actual pharmacy. I give props for the nice and helpful post office inside the store/ the clerk was very friendly and informative. The reason for the three stars was what happened today- walking in there were two very visible signs - please bring all non postal purchases to the pharmacy register. Okay so after getting my package mailed- I attempted to buy a Christmas card and some deodorant- walked to the pharmacy registry - behind were three clerks busy gossiping that they were oblivious to me and three other people standing in line waiting to be waited on. I then asked "Are you open?" One of the clerks rushed over and I was able to pay for my purchase. Will I come back? Maybe for just to use their post office. read more

Just wanted to thank Candace who works at this pharmacy. Last night, one of my neighbors needed emergency medication, and asked me to pick it up from this pharmacy. It was just before closing time, and I was in such a hurry that I forgot my handbag at home, and had no way of paying the required copay. Candace pulled the money from her own handbag, put it into the cash register, and sent me on my way. I went back today and repaid her, but it was such a lovely gesture on her part that it warmed my heart. One really doesn't see that kind of spontaneous generosity very often, and I was deeply grateful for her kindness and empathy. read more

Webster's is an Altadena tradition. Every once in a while, even in this big ole sprawling metropolis, you find a little old family run business that harkens back to a more innocent time. Even thinking about Webster's makes me start talking like Garrison Keillor. Slows me down. Makes me think of childhood and slow peaceful kitchy things. Things you find in Webster's, like the kind of Christmas Lladro stuff that isn't exactly Lladro and isn't necessarily Christmasy, but look like it belongs on your Aunt Mabel's mantle anyway. Webster's is the perfect place to buy a snow globe in the middle of the summer. Webster's is something like four old buildings strung together on a slight downhill. You can tell where they banged out the walls as you step down into the next building. It's a pharmacy, a video rental, a liquor store, a stationery, a bill paying / check cashing hi friend good to see you are you sure you've got everything kind of place. And you can drop off your brogans at the little place in the back and they'll resole them for you. There are books and magazines. There's a $50 one on the history of Altadena and the Mount Lowe tramway that I promised to buy but never got around to it. There's a little section with prosthetic devices. There's a place with pinwheels and pens with sparkles on them. You can get holloween decorations and gift bags for birthday parties. Websters has just got this old homey vibe to it, that kinda makes you want to shut up, take your shades off and be polite to old people. I don't know how they do it, but I suspect they will for another 50 years at least. read more

I pick up my mom's prescriptions from here. It's odd as this place as existed since I was child (it was a whole string of Websters stores next to each other back then). read more

I've never written a review before, but felt compelled to now, as I grew up in Altadena, approaching 50 years ago, and have gone to Webster's since I could walk. I finally grew up, and when I did, I served on the Altadena Chamber of Commerce, where I was honored to meet and work side by side with Mr. Bill Webster. His father opened Webster's Pharmacy. Mr. Webster, he would always tell me to call him "Bill", though I never did; I was taught you respect your elders by calling them by their last names; liked to make you think he was a curmudgeon. He did give off that persona, I must admit, but once you got to know him, he was just a pussycat in a gruff outer shell. Sad to say, that one of the other reviewers are correct. The Webster kids have divided what once used to be a whole and complete shopping experience. However, it's not all their fault, though there were rumors of sibling dispute. A sign of the times; kids and adults used to walk from one department to the other, and by the time they got to the end of the block, or the whole of Webster's store they'd have shoplifted whatever they needed. It's too bad that some things that bring us melancholy are going, going gone. So, saying that to say, unfortunately, this is a sign of times... siblings no longer have the same goals as their father, and society changes so, that shoppe owners are forced to provide one way in, and one way out....just to make their bottom line. read more

Love this place, not your ordinary pharmacy! They have a fabulous little gift section that I love to check out everytime I'm there! The buyer for this place has great taste. The staff is very friendly & knowledgeable and they really seem to care about their customers, I like that! They don't rush you & will take the time to answer all your questions, just the way it's supposed to be! They also put on a wonderful event called "Fancy Food Truck Friday" for the community every 2nd Friday of the month! Very fun event. It would be nice if all pharmacies modeled themselves after this one! read more

This is such a wonderful old fashioned shop and pharmacy and post office. A modern equivalent to an old time general store. They carry beautiful Altadena merchandise and lovely unique gifts, which they are kind enough to gift wrap if you ask them too. And the post office lines are almost always shorter than at the PO down the street. Altadena wouldn't be Altadena without Webster's! read more

I love Webster's Community Pharmacy. The pharmacist is great and the little post office in the back is run by Kathy who is fantastic! If you are looking for a special, unusual gift this is the place to find it. The staff is friendly and it is just so easy to get all your needs met all under one roof. It is a very special place. read more

In response to Meridith's comments , I wrote this review almost 3 months ago and you are just now responding? It makes me question as to you and your staffs commitment to educating and communicating to the customer. I am a huge advocate of supporting our local business owners over the "big" corporate companies, however when it comes to my health/prescriptions I feel a need to find a new partner. Sorry. read more

Ive been going to Webster's Pharmacy for decades. The current owners are by far the best! They care about the health and well being of their customers, and are responsible and caring members of our community. If there's an issue regarding a prescription with a doctor's office or insurance, they resolve it. We are lucky to have a true nbrhd pharmacy in our community. read more

Worst pharmacy ever for a NUMBER of reasons (and I say this as a fellow pharmacist). Avoid them at all costs.

My family has been a 50 + year patron of Webster's. It has been a convenient place to get meds,cards and small gifts. Not the cheapest, but pretty decent service. The problem for me of late is that the gift shop has now morphed from a cute little neighborhood place to browse unique items, to a poster child for every conceivable Democratic agenda on the planet. There is not single centrist conservative author offered in the mix of books they sell and customers are bombarded with end caps full of children's books about racism and every other left leaning political ideology imaginable. Yet Candace Owens best selling book or many of the other very intelligent and best selling conservative authors are no where to be found. At the register "Dump Don" buttons were displayed in plan view. Look, a store can sell whatever it wants...I'm not disputing that... but as a business which operates as a pharmacy, gift shop and post office , I would believe every view should be included. IgnorIng a large percentage of your customer base is a mistake of epic proportions. As a result, we will be moving our pharmacy prescriptions to another local pharmacy. It saddens me to do so, but it is important that businesses check their political bias when operating a retail store. read more