I'm very impressed. After two years of dealing with chain pharmacy fails, one after another after another, and then dealing with Fairley's, I'm never going anywhere else. Although the price I pay for my prescriptions is competitive or lower than the larger chains, Fairley's adds considerable value by being who they are: kind, helpful, service-oriented, and accurate. Once, they were out of stock of one of my meds, and it wouldn't be in stock until the day I was leaving for the east coast. So you know what they did? They mailed my prescription at no extra charge, all the way across the country, and I got it before I ran out. I've called a few times during the transition of my meds from the chain pharmacy, and the pharmacist himself often answers the phone, knows exactly who I am, and knows the answer to my question immediately. That's not the kind of service you'll get at a chain - that is, if you can even get someone to answer the phone at all. *coughWalgreenscough* The pharmacy *coughSafeway* I was using before Fairley's had so many problems with misplaced prescriptions, it probably took up a lot of my doctor's staff time dealing with all the mistakes and issues. I can see why my doctor's office loves Fairley's - their organization and competence means no extra phone calls to the doctor's office to straighten out the tenth instance of prescription "lost" by a pharmacy tech. The national chain pharmacies have become a complete clustermuck, riddled with disorganized, uncaring and often rude staff. When you're sick or in pain, you don't need the added stress of dealing with a disgruntled, overworked and underpaid pharmacist who is just showing up to get a paycheck and taking all his frustrations out on the customers. You need to meet and talk to the folks at Fairley's to really understand exactly how bad the service is at chain pharmacies. I might try the soda fountain one of these days, too. read more

Fairley's is a timeless pharmacy. It even has an area where they keep old pharmaceuticals like placebo pills or white polar bark, which the herbalist in me sort of geeks out on! I used to pick up my scripts (with insurance) at Walgreens thinking they would be cheaper but found Fairley's even cheaper to fill! I would much rather support these guys than a big chain! Plus they're nice people will that whole neighborhood friendly vibe! read more

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They are super helpful! I went in yesterday, trying to find a specific med brand that I needed. No one else in town had it, but they were able to order it for me and get it in next day no problem. So helpful! Special shout out to Tracey for taking the time to answer all my questions. I will go back every month from now on! read more

We've been using Fairley's for a long time after moving our prescriptions from Fred Meyer. I'll never go anywhere else. They have provided me service above and beyond what I would consider normal service many times. I find the staff friendly and knowledge. You could do a lot worse. read more

Every now and then I go out of my way to visit this childhood haunt (the soda fountain) and after the door closes I feel like I just stepped back into the 80's when I first was introduced to a phosphate soda. If you want to pick up a prescription or just feel like you have gone back in time to some better place... go here. read more

What a trip. You can twirl on the soda fountain stools reliving times past while free wifi-ing on your device of choice and pausing for an occasional spoonful of blackberry revel secure in the knowledge that your presciptions are filled with precise attention to every detail. Be local. Support the small and independent. Be thankful that you have the choice. Enjoy the experience of what otherwise would be a chore. read more

I would give a 5++++ stars to Fairley's. My prescription needs are extensive, time sensitive and always being adjusted. They are very pleasant, professional and thorough. They answer my confused questions and ALWAYS meet my needs. And they deliver. : ) read more

I can't comment on the pharmacy aspect of this establishment, but I have certainly tried a number of the phosphate sodas over the years. The sodas are really sweet, and perfectly refreshing for days with summer heat. They have pretty good ice cream too. It feels a bit weird sitting on a bar stool drinking milkshakes and soda at a pharmacy, but this is Portland so weird is the norm... Plus this business is iconic to locals since they've served the community for over a hundred years. read more

Great spot with a very good pharmacy. Every neighborhood had a soda shop when I was growing up in Portland. History buffs might be interested that Coca-Cola manufactured their syrup to be sold to outlets that could "spritz" it up with seltzers. What better place than a pharmacy? Toss in Prohibition and those shops became a great gathering place. Well Fairley's still offer not only Coke products, but some of the eastsides best shakes, malted' s, egg creams, and floats. All hand made. Don't go through summer without a respite at Fairley's, and that is a shout to the newcomers to PDX. read more

I take a lot of meds. I don't like to, but I'm old and live with persistent chronic health issues which I can take pills and manage and live...or rot away curled up in my bed. Fairley's is great. They've always got all my needs in stock, they're cheaper than the chain pharmacies for my insurance, and oh yeah they always have my scripts ready quickly. They're discreet, which matters when some of the things you're on may carry judgment from the nasty sort of jerk who tries to overhear conversations about meds. They're friendly and nonjudgmental themselves. And if you need real "Coke Syrup" a huge boon if your migraines give you nausea, or your kid has a punky stomach, they'll sell it to ya here. But there's a soda fountain up front. A phosphate really makes paying for your meds better. I promise. Top quality coffee drinks, too, heck of an espresso shake. But the real 5 star? I was really sick once. I mean, scary sick. My doctor's office, itself a class act, called in to Fairleys, convinced them to deliver my scripts rather outside their delivery area, and they wouldn't take a tip. Grr. Fine. So I'll give you five stars and tell you how great they are on the Internet. read more

Excellent service, fast, and extremely friendly! I'm new to the area so I appreciated the tips on where to eat, which markets were close by, etc. I prefer to use a local pharmacy, so I was pleasantly surprised with how fast my prescription was filled and how informative the staff was. read more

True to many of the reviews before me, this is a flash to the past. Set on a triangular corner the layout of the pharmacy is strangely unique with three entrances and the pharmacy counter along the base of the triangle. Prices are absolutely incredible for today's day and age. Although many patronize the pharmacy I visited simply for the ice cream. Much to my surprise while thumbing through the reviews I was intrigued by the "Phosphates"! When I think I Phosphate Soda I am drawn to days of sitting at the counter of my mother's favorite 5 and Dime scarfing down roast beef sandwiches on her lunch break on days I didn't have school. Please don't misconstrue what I just typed; those meals were reward for a day's worth of hard labor! She brought me to her job to work. I often kid with her the fact I learned how to file before I learned my ABCs. Sarsaparilla was my drink of choice and I loved it! But alas the Phosphate Soda just didn't do it for me. The seltzer or club soda came from the Coca-Cola fountain on the counter to the left of the classic classic soda fountain all the reviewers rave about. Yes, I agree. Its really cool to see but I would have loved to have seen it used as opposed to the modern classic I became familiar with growing up as Gen-X McDonald's kid! and a little more syrup wouldn't have hurt either. But the purpose of my visit was the ice cream and I was determined to have at it! I ordered a two scoop sundae with caramel and nuts with a cherry on top. My ice creams of choice was classic vanilla because every handmade ice cream should be judged by that which is the most common and well... basic! The second flavor I chose was so underwhelming I honestly do not remember what it was. The nuts added as the topping were, literally, salted peanut halves that tasted straight from the can. What happened to crushing the peanuts? The caramel was thought to be nonexistent until I got to the bottom of the cup. It was there I noticed the pool of caramel that laid under the melted ice cream as if it were the first thing added. As if those weren't disappointing enough the ice cream tasted two degrees away from being freezer burnt. The milk consistency was not there and the sugar content was fit for a diabetic. I took my first spoonful and thought, "Snoopy Snow Cone Maker"! With the many scoop shops around town it is fairly safe to say I will not visit Fairley's again. read more

It's how pharmacies used to be. Personalized service and helpful advice. The soda fountain could be a movie set all by itself!

I really wanted to like this pharmacy. I swapped my scripts here about two years ago because I wanted to support my neighborhood's local, family run business. Unfortunately, I've had nothing but poor customer service from them since I've made the swap. I've had trouble with them requesting new prescriptions from my GP and the desk staff is very inexperienced with answering basic questions (eg: when will my script get here? A) not sure, check back tomorrow). They also aren't usually very friendly in any of the interactions I've had over the last few years. I understand that they see a high volume of angry/drug seeking people and it seems that they've become too worn down to treat people with respect and general pleasantries. The last straw was broken today when the pharmacist said she wouldn't check in on my prescription being renewed because "we're going into a holiday weekend and it's not my job because I'm not a perscriber". I'll be taking my business elsewhere read more

I have been picking up prescriptions at Fairley's for several months. It has usually been an unpleasant experience. Today was no exception. I called at 10 am to request my prescriptions to be picked up. I arrived at 1 pm and had to wait for them to fill the prescriptions. While I waited, one of the pharmacy techs made a deal out of harrasing me. Even accused me of lying about calling in for my order. I am sure that they will be very happy to know that I will no longer be a problem for them. read more

Our family has trusted Fairley's with our medication needs since we moved into the neighborhood over 20 years ago. The staff is knowledgeable, readily helpful to answer questions or offer alternatives, friendly. Even though Fairley's is smaller than the larger chain drug stores, their prices are competitive and frequently lower. Most importantly, there hasn't been a misstep in all the time we've patronized Fairley's. This in itself is no small feat. We've had several brushes with serious health issues throughout the years and the majority of chain pharmacies in Portland have all made mistakes, examples including dispensing the wrong medication, using different dosing instructions from what the doctor had advised, and dispensing a medication that could potentially cause anaphylactic shock due to an adverse reaction when taken with sulfa. The allergies (including sulfa) were listed (printed in bold type at the top of the page) on the accompanying handout, so clearly someone behind the counter wasn't paying adequate attention. We were dismayed and disheartened when these mistakes happened and were beginning to wonder if any pharmacy in Portland could be trusted. We tried the independently-owned Fairley's nearby and have enjoyed consistently accurate and prompt service. If they are running low on a particular medication, they will give you what they have and the remainder is always available the next day. Now, for the really good stuff. . .as others have mentioned, they have a pretty darned good soda fountain that offers the best handmade milkshakes available in several nearby counties! The selection of flavors is long and includes something for everyone's particular itch. They also serve other ice cream delights as well as premium coffee, and the 50s retro Green River. A sweet little taste of childhood in an old-fashioned Coke glass. An added benefit is supporting a local family-owned independent pharmacy, a rare opportunity these days. read more

I'm changing my review from 5 stars to 1 based solely on trying to get prescriptions properly filled here. The milkshakes are great. It's a cool old Pharmacy with a Pharmacy staff that is completely incompetent. For years I've gotten a prescription here. Every time getting the full prescription was a battle. They had to order it, gave me the wrong item, ect ect. The male pharmacist I dealt with yesterday was completely wrong and offered zero practical solutions. I wanted to use these guys because they are local and a landmark. But now I know why my doctor rolled his eyes when I told him where to send the prescription. How they've been open so long? I do not know.Go for a soda or a milkshake. Don't risk your health getting a prescription filled. They are also stubbornly incompetent and rude if questioned. read more

Fairley's has all the prescriptions and drugstore items you expect, but that's not the main reason I'd want to go there. I like the obscenely large milkshakes. They are delicious - made with real ice cream at the soda fountain behind the counter. It was so large, I should have split it with my dad. But, he wanted his own. As a kid in the 40s/50s, my grandfather took my dad and uncle there while he talked to the pharmacist and did whatever a physician would have done at a pharmacy in that era. When my dad heard they still had the soda fountain, he had to go (after buying a few Annie's doughnuts to stave off disappointment if it didn't exist). I guess he wanted to make up for all those shakes he split with his brother years ago. Great soda fountain - something from another era, but not in the fake, retro way. I'd recommend splitting a milkshake - unless you can drink that much cream and sugar without writhing on the ground with a stomachache. read more

A great place to spend an hour with a milk shake and a newspaper. Nice to see a super modern pharmacy in back, and an old-timey soda fountain up in front, where for $2.50 you can get the weeks special shake. read more

Very friendly and inexpensive. They even had the prescription for our pet. Other places quoted us $140+ and would have to order it, Fairley's price was $30 and they had it in stock. AMAZING!! read more

This is the best pharmacy I've ever used. We live maybe a mile away, and they deliver my meds to my house for free (unless it is one bottle of a cheap generic; then the fee was $3.) They have always answered the phone quickly, they take care of problems with doctors immediately, they aren't in a hurry when they answer my questions, and they've never made a mistake. read more

The only reason I can't give this place five stars is because I only had an iced coffee, so I don't feel I can validly judge the quality of the drinks! That said, my experience was MOST lovely. The service was excellent. The atmosphere was delightful. I felt like I was truly in an American pharmacy in the 1940s! AND I learned this year marks their 100th anniversary. What a treat. Definitely stop by. :) It's cheap too! read more

Awesome milkshakes! Awesome staff! Always willing to go the extra mile. And they make you feel like family. They also offer mail or delivery. Very convenient. And I love supporting locally owned businesses. read more

The review is purely for the Soda fountain, in a nut shell, underwhelmed. The girl working the fountain did not know what several of the menu items were, but she was nice enough. I ordered a malt. Just meh. Not very malty at all. Too thick to drink. Price was only $3.75, so it's not like I spent much to try the place out, right? read more

I've have never had a worse experience in my life with a pharmacy as I did this evening at Fairley's. I heard great things about this place from those who work in the hospital I do so I decided sinceIi now live in the neighborhood I would do my business with local businesses rather than a Fred Meyers or Safeway Pharmacy. I'm all about helping small business till I went here. I just got out of the hospital, in horrible pain, and all I wanted to do was pick up my prescriptions so I can go home and rest. I go to pick it up and only carrying with me my checks from my HSA account. The guy behind the counter explained they don't "USUALLY" take checks and the owners came out because she overheard us chatting and told me in a very rude voice "well I don't KNOW you so i'm not taking a check from you". I was literally thrown back by her horrible attitude towards me and tried to explain this was my only form of payment for medical purposes and didn't have the money to pay cash nor do I have a credit card. She then told me it's her policy that if she doesn't know you she won't help you out in a bind. I told her I could verify the funds by calling the 800 number on the checks and write my drivers license info on the check but she told me "that doesn't matter and it doesn't prove anything". Which truly confirmed she doesn't know what she is talking about or not intelligent enough to comprehend that you can verify funds via phone. I was verbally attacked by the owner of this place and left with a horrible taste in my mouth. I just don't understand how someone in her profession could have zero sympathy or people skills. Her customer service was so out of line I actually felt I needed to share this for those who would read their reviews or trying to find a new pharmacy. A small business pharmacy strives off local business so I was horrified that I was treated the way I was. I could tell everyone was also thrown off by her childish behavior which only got me more upset. I was in tears explaining I planned to do all my pharmacy needs at her place and she would just have to get to know me but her HORRIBLE attitude just set me over the edge. A local customer even offered to pay for my prescriptions out of the kindness of her heart but I of course could never take that offer when I had means of paying for it myself. I DO NOT recommend this place for your phamacy needs. I will be sure to have this place removed from our "pharmacy recommendation" list at the hospital I work for. It truly makes me upset the way I was treated and if you even witnessed what I did, you would chose to take your business elsewhere. I do hope someday the owner of this place finds true happiness in her heart so she doesn't feel the need to treat people in such a horrible way. read more

Pretty good - chocolate malt? 4 stars for tradition's sake. PB&C shake? 3 stars as not fully mixed together and therefore runny. Soda fountain vibe? Not as great as we remember it unfortunately. Cluttered overstuffed counter making for awkward seating in about 1/3 of the seats, and waiting 15 minutes at the counter to get two shakes? 2 stars. Hey, all it takes is greeting customers but no one ever said hello and barely acknowledged us when we got our checks. Creepy old guy trying to buy 2 young girls ice cream who he clearly did not know, then bribe the staff behind the counter with extra tips...and the staff doing nothing to cut that off? Negative 100 stars. ( Some may think this is harmless but if your kid came home saying a stranger bought them ice cream, you'd probably not be apathetic in your response either...we have brought this to management's attention as the staff need to be empowered to say aw hell no, get out of here, to someone who clearly makes them - and the kids - uncomfortable) FOLLOW UP - Shawna Laxson, the co-owner, took 5 days to respond and rather than trying to put herself in the customer's shoes, proceeded to immediately attempt to shame my husband and I for calling this out, blaming US for not doing something rather than being accountable herself (we stayed as long as we did to make sure the man was gone before the girls left, that was our part, along with contacting the business directly to make sure the staff felt empowered to not let old men - even regulars - pay for the drinks of young girls he doesn't know), accusing us of saying things we NEVER said (there was another customer who said those things, sure as hell was not us), and rather than show respect what a concerned customer has to say, DEFENDING the man because he was a "regular", and saying that our complaint on Yelp is "going to be the demise of our society". Keep it classy and continue to attack customers, Ms Laxson, you certainly understand customer service!!!! read more

This so called old fashioned soda fountain hasn't a clue how to make a chocolate soda. One scoop of chocolate ice cream in soda water. Yuck. I sure miss Rosie's in Ashland. read more

Well, I was really excited to take my daughter out for a milkshake from a soda fountain, but it was not all that great. The "soda jerk" the girl making the shakes was very nice but the shakes were like drinking flavored milk. They were much too runny. Maybe it was an off day? I don't think we will be going back though. read more

Always helpful and always have what I need, I love the special attention. Support the local guys.

Boo on the box stores, which pharmacies always seem to have problems, delays, mixups - and are too much of an intrusive and homogenized presence in today's world! Huzzah for places such as Fairley's, where they go out of their way to help you out, have your prescriptions ready on time, answer your questions, chat and exchange pleasantries - and have that lovely soda foundation to tempt and make your day a little better... Thank you, Fairley's!! read more

HORRIBLE PHARMACY! I have had the unfortunate opportunity to go here twice to pick up medication. Their service is the worst I have ever encountered in Portland. They were annoyed that I was there 2 minutes before closing, considered not letting me pick up my medication because they had started closing early, then handed it to me without any explanation of how to use it/ side effects, etc. This was also a new medication. I am sure their milkshakes are decent, but I would recommend not giving them any business. A pharmacy should care about their patients, first and foremost. Clearly, they were more concerned about closing up shop! read more

I love Fairley's! Great, quick helpful place to get prescriptions and best of all the ROCKIN' soda fountain! The Espresso Shake... DAMN!!!! To die for and yes, split it! read more

I went here when they were almost closed only to find out my doctor called in my Rx to the wrong pharmacy down the street. They were very gracious about this and had it transferred over after quite a search for it being missing in the first place. I thought this was very kind considering they were closed at this point, as well as did a lot of work to get it filled for me. Everyone I encountered was very helpful here. There's not a lot to it--a pharmacy, some stuff to buy your typical pharmacy might have about 75 years ago, and then a soda fountain which was closed when I got there. I felt like I was in a different era, in a good way, because that came with personalized service and a less rushed attitude. I will go back. Prices are good and selection...well, it didn't look bad but it certainly isn't expansive. Location is at Sandy and 72nd and Fremont where they all collide and parking seems rather easy if you can navigate the intersection. read more

been wanting to come here for decades, and finally did....we each had the old fashioned chocolate milkshake, made with vannila ice cream/choc syrup/whole milk/whipped cream...excellent and transported back to the '50's...the ambiance is great with the soda fountain and built-in cabinetry...the hamilton beach and photos from so long ago, plus old pharmacy scripts detail the time periods...the server/pharm clerk was very friendly and made the best milkshakes...plus sundries, books, and pharmacy...we'll be back...additionally they give you the metal cup with the extra milkshake! read more