BenGil Business
Michelle’s Pharmacy named CCCC Business of the Year
Michelle and Wally Dyer, founders of Michelle’s Pharmacy, stand center with their plaque recognizing the business as the CCCC Business of the Year.
Michelle’s Pharmacy, which opened its Gillespie location in 2009, was named the Coal Country Chamber of Commerce’s (CCCC) Business of the Year Saturday night at the conclusion of the CCCC’s annual banquet at JoDanni’s Amore Restaurant, Benld.
This organization hit the ground running in regard to community engagement and involvement
Mike Brill, master of ceremonies and a member of the CCCC Board, announced the award at the conclusion of the banquet, which also featured an address by State Senator Andy Manar and the naming of Rick Konneker as the recipient of this year’s CCCC Spirit Award. Brill noted the Business of the Year had been in the Coal Country market for eight years, after starting with the purchase of an existing business in Carlinville, followed by the purchase of the former Dippold Drug Store in Gillespie a year later. More recently, Michelle’s opened a third location in Bunker Hill.
“This organization hit the ground running in regard to community engagement and involvement,” Brill said. “They have been active with the Chamber since the beginning, whether it be bringing a crew to work one of the Summer Concerts as well as volunteering at the Fall Festival and Black Diamond Days.” He added a member of the Michelle’s Pharmacy team also served as CCCC Treasurer for several years.
Brill praised Michelle’s Pharmacy for its dedication to customer service.
“It is clear this business really gets it when it comes to operating in small towns,” he said. “They are very customer service driven and seem to be always trying to come up with ways to make it easier for their customers, whether it be remodeling a location, offering free home delivery of their goods or creating a website that is user friendly and offers their customers the ability to communicate with them and place orders online.”
“This business is a great asset to the community and to the Chamber as well and we are lucky to have them,” Brill concluded.
Dyer credited her “two tables” of employees who attended the banquet for fulfilling the business’s commitment to customer service and striving to find new ways to better serve customers.
“It’s our pleasure to serve your communities and take care of your medical needs,” she said. “That is what we are here for and that’s what we strive to do.”
Michelle Dyer accepts the CCCC’s Business of the Year award.
She said she was familiar with small towns and doing business in small communities, having grown up in Palmyra before first working at and then buying the former Fritz’s Pharmacy in Carlinville. Creating a business in a small town comes with challenges, she noted, along with the challenges specifically associated with operating a pharmacy.
“We accept those challenges,” she said. “And we look for ways to distinguish our business, and one of those ways is in customer service.” The level of customer service the pharmacy offers is one of the things that distinguishes Michelle’s from big box pharmacies with whom she competes.
“It’s the reason these communities choose us,” she said, “and it’s why we choose you.”
In addition to a plaque to display in their place of business, the Dyers received a free night’s stay at the Hampton Inn, Litchfield, courtesy of Miranda Bergmann and Jean Bruner-Jachino. About 200 people attended the banquet.
The level of customer service the pharmacy offers is one of the things that distinguishes Michelle’s from big box pharmacies with whom she competes.
In April 2009, Dyer purchased Dippold Drugs in Gillespie from Jim Verton. Dippold Drugs was established in the 1940s and had been operated by Ed Dippold and his father until Verton bought the business in 1988.
More recently, Dyer opened a third Michelle’s Pharmacy location in Bunker Hill.
In addition to filling prescriptions, all three locations offer medication adherence programs, specialty medications, 90-day prescriptions and vaccinations. The stores also offer durable medical equipment including mobility devices, oxygen, ostomy devices and supplies, braces and orthopedic shoes.
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The Gillespie Public Library is having a promotional giveaway during the month of December. The “December Spin Giveaway” will allow patrons to spin for prizes each time books are checked out during the month of December.
The prizes are to Gillespie businesses.
Although December is a hectic month with the holidays, take time to relax with a “good book” and visit the library.
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Madison Communications sponsored the Community Hope Center’s Christmas Toy Drive once again this year. The new and unwrapped toys for girls and boys ages 0-12 were collected from the middle of October through the first week of December.
Madison was overjoyed with the outcome of the Toy Drive and wants to thank anyone who took the time to donate. The holiday season is a perfect time to give back to the local communities.
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Wants Business to Be Safe, Fun Place for All Ages
A familiar face has taken over a Litchfield game and hobby business designed to provide a fun, welcoming atmosphere for people of all ages.
Jerry Ehlers, who grew up in Gillespie, is the owner of Bobbaloo’s at #7 Litchfield Plaza, and envisions the business as an alternative for “families to get together, and do things.”
“Today, it seems like so many people just sit with their phones,” said Ehlers, “or they’re always playing video games. They aren’t doing things together, as a family. I want Bobbaloo’s to be a place where people come and have fun, as a unit.”
In June 2023, Ehlers took over Bobbaloo’s, which is one of the few game and hobby outlets between Springfield and St. Louis. “Our products are getting more popular,” he said, “but these type of stores don’t usually serve small towns. I’ve had a lot of people tell me how glad they are that there’s a place like this, close to home.”
It’s a second line of business for Ehlers, who went to Gillespie High School until moving to Bunker Hill for his final semester, where he graduated. Ehlers has been a tax accountant since 1991. After practicing in Bunker Hill from 1995-2015, he has since worked in the Alton area and is now part of Accelerated Accounting and Tax Service in East Alton, where he currently lives.
Bobbaloo’s unique atmosphere and product line features card games, board games, tabletop games, Dungeons & Dragons, novelties, video games, tabletop miniatures, and sports cards, including baseball, football, hockey, wrestling, and superhero cards.
Thousands of cards are on sale at good prices at Bobbaloo’s, which also features a full-scale arcade with nine video games, including some state-of-the-art machines as well as some throwbacks from the 1990s. The business also offers paints, models, and various other collectibles, as well as refreshments.
The odd name of the business came from the previous owner. “Bobbaloo was his first Dungeons and Dragons character,” laughed Ehlers. “He used to dress up as Bobbaloo, for store advertising, conventions, and shows. He was really into it.”
Ehlers was inspired to buy the business from his own memories with his two daughters. “We played Pokemon around the house all the time, and we decided to go to a local tournament in St. Louis,” he reflected. “The guy that ran the tournament made it fun and exciting for our kids, and we decided to dive in.
“We ended up going to tournaments in Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and a whole lot of other places,” he said. “That was a big part of our time together, and I have such great memories of it.”
Ehlers also remembered other favorite activities of his family, and offers much the same at Bobbaloo’s. “Our family always loved playing card and board games,” he said, “and that’s pretty much my goal. I want families to have a place to come, be safe, and have fun together.”
Many customers just stop in to play the selection of board games on hand at Bobbaloo’s, including Monopoly, Clue, Risk, Life, and other classics.
“We have a pretty good core of people who come in here,” said Ehlers. “They love to play games, and they like to teach others. They also like to form group for board games, and they welcome anyone who wants to play and learn.
“We’ve got plenty of Dungeons and Dragons, and we have tournaments in here all the time,” continued Ehlers. “There’s a pretty good following here, and it’s a pretty good element. There definitely aren’t any troubled people in here, and we want to keep it that way.”
“The other day, we had two people who had just moved here from New Hampshire,” commented Ehlers. “They were looking for a place like this, and they sat down and played games with our regulars.”
The business is also available to book birthday parties, art parties, and other events. There’s also Magic – The Gathering, which is one of the big upcoming events at Bobbaloo’s.
“That’s the key word – gathering,” said Ehlers. “Everyone is welcome here. We’ve got six- and seven-year-old kids in here playing games, and we have people in their eighties who like the board games. We want everyone to come in, and be part of our expanding community.”
New Year’s Eve will also be a big night at Bobbaloo’s, where people played board games until 3 a.m. last year. “We were here a long time, and it was great,” said Ehlers. “It’s certainly safer than a lot of alternatives, especially for young people.”
The business is managed by Chris Walls, who handles much of the day-to-day operations of Bobbaloo’s. Walls has extensive knowledge of the games and products, and is always willing to help.
Bobbaloo’s is open from noon-8 p.m. on Sunday, noon-11 p.m. on Friday, and noon-9 p.m. every other day except Tuesday, when the business is closed. For more information, check out the Bobbaloo’s Facebook page or call 217-556-7709.
Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville, Ill. He may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
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