Adobe Drugs Burglarized!

By Anna Pier

Sonoma’s own – and beloved – independent pharmacy, Adobe Drugs, was burglarized in the early morning of Friday October 3.  Pharmacist and proprietor Aman Garg told the SUN, “I’m just heartbroken – that’s all I know.” He added, “I trust people.”  Explaining that there have been a couple of police reports of other incidents in the recent past locally, together with this robbery, Garg said, “It makes me sad for Sonoma.”

Garg stated that the alarm sounded at the moment of break-in, and it was immediately relayed to him and to 911. He said that the whole robbery is captured on camera, both inside and outside the store, including the robbers’ car.  The two robbers were hooded, masked and gloved. They broke one of the glass panels on the front of the store, and also broke in the back door.  Garg said they apparently had mapped out the whole store.

The pharmacist/proprietor stated that the robbers “only got a handful of drugs,” and their attempt to get the narcotics in safekeeping in the pharmacy safe failed. They were not able to open the safe, and their attempts to prise it off the floor were equally unsuccessful. They did not take anything else.

Garg, who was previously employed as a pharmacist for Pharmaca, has long been an appreciated member of the Sonoma community, known for his caring and concerned response to crisis. During the 2017 fire, on his own initiative he went to the temporary shelter at Sonoma High with emergency medications and supplies. When Covid vaccines were difficult to access, Garg offered them in the parking lot of the drug store.

The pharmacist/entrepreneur decided, against all odds, to open an independent pharmacy in Sonoma when the small chain, Pharmaca, former tenant of the property and his employer, went bankrupt.  At the time he explained his decision to the Sun, “This is my happy place.” He opened doors with a Grand Opening celebration on June 1, 2023.  Garg has brought back to his store many of the knowledgeable and helpful employees of Pharmaca. He has built a loyal and grateful clientele, who appreciate the kind, caring individual attention and excellent service that is the trademark of his venture. The building that houses his business is at 303 W. Napa Street, across from St. Francis Church. In deference to Sonoma’s history, he named his new venture “Adobe Drugs,” which was the name of the original pharmacy, a part of Sonoma’s history, in the same building.