History of K&B Drug Stores Told Through Photographs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Katie Combs
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kcombs@arcadiapublishing.com

History of K&B Drug Stores Told Through Photographs
Local author pens new book with help from owner

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is K&B Drug Stores from local author John S. Epstein, with a forward from Sydney J. Besthoff III, past president and owner of K&B Drug Stores and grandson of Sydney J. Besthoff (founder with Gustave Katz of Katz & Besthoff Drug Store). The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by.

Besthoff is a meticulous keeper of records. The photographs found in this book are from his personal collection, covering the 92-year life span of Katz & Besthoff and K&B Drug Stores. This is a rare opportunity to see these photographs, which chronicle a piece of New Orleans history, during which time the store became a part of the community.

K&B Drug Store grew from a local pharmacy with more than 50 locations in the New Orleans area to 186 stores in six states while remaining based in New Orleans. Fondly remembered as the "purple dragon," K&B is greatly missed by all those who passed through its purple doors and were rung up on its purple cash registers. Come sit inside a Katz & Besthoff location one last time and have a Nectar soda--and don't forget to pick up half a gallon of K&B ice cream on your way home.

Highlights of K&B Drug Stores:

· The author has also included photographs of menus and china from his collection of K&B memorabilia.

· K&B’s infamous purple trademark resulted from the purchase of a discounted purple wrapping paper refused by another merchant.

· K&B’s original double checked logo represented prescriptions being “double checked” by pharmacists before being dispensed.

· Several former K&B locations still operate in New Orleans under the Rite Aid name.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or

(888)-313-2665.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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