If you live on the East Side of Milwaukee and want a pharmacy that is convenient and well-established, there are four good options: one independent pharmacy, one Wisconsin chain, and two national drug store chains.

Brady Street Pharmacy
1696 N. Astor St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202-2164
414-272-4384

At the corner of Astor and Brady Streets, you will find an East Side landmark. Much more than a drug store, Brady Street Pharmacy will transport you back to halcyon days when pharmacies also featured lunch counters and soda fountains. Occupying an unassuming beige building on a well-traveled route, Brady Street Pharmacy offers the basic services that a small town pharmacy would provide, including a decent selection of over-the-counter medications, dispensed with advice if you ask. Due to its location and notoriety, this drug store appears on many lists of “participating pharmacies” for local health plans, even though it is not connected to a larger chain. A number of community groups also use spaces within the pharmacy for meetings. If you want to support a local business (and also have a traditional counter lunch), Brady Street Pharmacy is a good choice. Accessible from MCTS Bus Routes 15 and 14. 

Aurora Pharmacy
788 N. Jefferson St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-271-4441

Aurora Pharmacy, part of a larger health care network including Aurora Saint Luke’s Medical Center, is a Wisconsin-based chain of pharmacies. Though some are located within medical facilities, others are housed in supermarkets or stand-alone buildings. In addition to mail and personal delivery for prescriptions, some Aurora Pharmacies offer a range of other services, such as needle disposal, immunizations, and flu shots. You are guaranteed to get a personal consultation with a pharmacist when you visit. If you are a senior citizen, you should enroll in the Freedom 55+, a special program that provides discounts on prescriptions, home health supplies, and even massage therapy. If you want a full-service chain pharmacy that is connected to the Milwaukee medical community, Aurora is an excellent option. But take note: their ̶East Town” location on Jefferson Street closes quite early: 5:30pm! Accessible from MCTS Bus Routes 30 and 14. 

Walgreens
1400 E. Brady St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-7770

Although I don’t normally tout the value of national chains, Walgreens makes a compelling case for using its pharmacy. The 24-location at the corner of Brady Street and Farwell Avenue is a hub of activity well into the night. Its fluorescent pharmacy lights are a beacon for anyone who needs medication in a pinch. The Walgreens website (www.walgreens.com) is incredibly extensive, allowing you to order prescriptions online for in-store pickup or mail delivery. It features a library that provides details on various drugs and even allows you to review and print your prescription history. Of course, there is no substitute for in-person advice, especially if you want to ask about over-the-counter medications or have questions about side effects. Though the personal relationship may not aleady be in place like it would at a small, independent drug store, Walgreens does have a smiling pharmacist there to greet you at 3:00am if you need help. Accessible from MCTS Bus Routes 15 and 30. 

Osco Drug
1100 E. Garfield Ave.  (near North and Humboldt, inside Jewel)
Milwaukee, WI 53212-3473
414-374-8621

I am including another national chain because it has one huge advantage: it’s connected to a grocery store in many cases. Since it can take 15-20 minutes to get a prescription filled, there’s no better way to pass the time than to shop. The Osco Drug inside of the Jewel-Osco supermarket complex is convenient for both East Side and Riverwest residents who want to handle multiple needs in one trip. Osco Drug has a website in place (under its parent brand, www.savon.com), but the offerings are more limited and less user-friendly than at www.walgreens.com. Accessible from MCTS Bus Routes 14 and 21.