A chemist's shop, in the old sense of the word.
Isaac Matatov graduated from St. John's University in 2011 with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. After graduating, he worked in chain pharmacies, but he was unhappy with a system where patients got little personal attention and everything felt rushed.
He had always wanted to own a business, so he set out to open a pharmacy of his own. He chose Woodhaven because it's such a bustling community of different nationalities, cultures and religions. Woodhaven Chemist opened on Jamaica Avenue in January 2019. The name is a deliberate throwback — "chemist" is what independent pharmacists were called before the industry consolidated, and it's still how a lot of our longtime customers refer to us.
We fill prescriptions like any pharmacy does. What sets an independent shop apart is everything around that: walk-in vaccines and testing, a pharmacist who can write a birth control prescription on the spot, and a delivery van that knows which buildings have a broken buzzer.
One team, every time
Whoever helps you knows your history and follows through, whether it's at the counter, on the phone, or at your door.
Say it once
Allergies, insurance quirks, and preferences stay on file — you shouldn't have to repeat your history at every visit.
Plain answers
If a generic works as well as the brand, we'll say so. If it doesn't, we'll say that too.
When we're open
What we accept
We're in-network with most major commercial plans and both public programs below. If you don't see your plan, call the counter — we can usually still bill it.