ABOUT US
how it all started
Many may remember occasions when he stayed open late to wait for you to come from the doctor’s office or to personally deliver a prescription to your home in bad weather. Some may remember him coming in on a holiday or in the middle of the night to fill an emergency prescription. Others may simply recall the time he spent reassuring and advising you on a medical or personal concern. Gaspar always felt blessed to have opened a business in the North Arlington community. He developed personal relationships with many that more closely resembled family ties than business patrons. The traditions of superlative care, products and services, instilled by Gaspar since HB Pharmacy’s inception, are the same traditions to which our customers are accustomed to today.
In January of 1964, HB Pharmacy opened under the leadership of Gaspar G. Bellitti. Gaspar was always just around the corner and always there to help.
our growth over the years
HB Pharmacy has seen many changes since 1964. The original pharmacy, HB Drugs, was located at 155 Ridge Road. Gaspar’s son John, a graduate of Rutgers School of Pharmacy, took over leadership of the store in 1992. Guided by the traditions of service and care instilled in him by his father, John Bellitti has shaped HB Pharmacy into what it is today. He expanded the store in the mid-1990’s and forged a new path in 1999 as HB Drugs returned to its pharmacy roots by opening prescription compounding lab. In January 2001, the store moved to 98 Ridge Road, providing a larger facility, expanded compounding laboratory, and a parking lot. It was also at this time that HB Drugs assumed its current name of HB Pharmacy and its subsidiary, HB Apothecary.
award winning pharmacy
In 2024, HB Pharmacy once again earned recognition on both a local and national level by winning the Good Neighbor Pharmacy of the Year Award. This is the second time HB Pharmacy has received this award, the first time back in 2016. These awards were created to recognize independent pharmacies, with over 5,000 pharmacies in contention. In 2016, we earned a Proclamation and key to the town of North Arlington to thank us for our service to the community, plus an award from the State of New Jersey for our service to the wider community. In 2017, John was named Independent Pharmacist of the Year for the state of NJ.
3rd generation family business
Also in 2016, Gaspar’s grandson and John’s son, Vincent Gaspar, joined the HB family, making the pharmacy a 3rd generation family business. Vince is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and Weight Loss Specialist, plus a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certified coach for Exercise Nutrition. Vince started Gaspar’s Best® within the pharmacy. This allowed us to continue Gaspar’s legacy of preventative and proactive care for our patients by adding nutrition, micronutrient and wheat zoomer testing, fitness, and natural products to the pharmacy. Through the website, we now help people from all around the United States.
Welcoming Our Newest Partner
James Park was a pharmacy extern from Rutgers at HB Pharmacy back in 2009. He became a full-time pharmacist here in 2010 and has been an integral part of our business and the community ever since. Today he is the Pharmacy Manager and our Functional Wellness Expert — and now we are proud to say he also a part-owner!
For over 50 years, HB Pharmacy and now Gaspar’s Best® have carried on the traditions, service, and legacy of Gaspar Bellitti. We have been your friendly, family-owned and operated neighborhood pharmacy and have maintained our values and level of service as our neighborhood continues to grow.
We understand that, especially in today’s world of healthcare, trust is something that is earned. We thank you for placing your trust in us today and hope to continue to earn your trust in the future.