Residents of the Town of Hope got some good news last night — next year the town will be getting its first pharmacy in more than 30 years and it will fill a historic building on the Town Square.

Lester Burris with Panacea Pharmacy made the announcement during last night’s state of the town meeting. He said that his company would be opening a pharmacy in the former Irwin Union Bank Branch and Hope Star-Journal building on the Town Square.

Burris describes the company’s plans:

Burris said that Hope’s demographics make for a good fit.

“We are finding that in other small communities around the state, where they used to have things that have moved to bigger cities… there is still a need, especially for a health care type of service in those communities,” Burris said. “A lot of times people are just going without. o I think there is a certain need for it here.”

Burris credited Town Manager J.T. Doane with selling the pharmacy owners on the attraction of the town.

“Kind of like the slogan — it is a surprising little town. We found that to be true,” Burris said.

Panacea Pharmacy operates two other pharmacies, one in Bloomington and one in New Castle, Burris said.

Town officials say that it has been 30 to 35 years since the town has had a pharmacy. The pharmacy is expected to open in February.