Sidney Barthwell was a Black entrepreneur who, at one time, owned the largest black-owned drugstore chain in the country. He attended Cass Technical High School and went to college at what is now Wayne State University's College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences. Barthwell owned 13 stores around Detroit including his pharmacy in Black Bottom which sold ice cream & soda. Barthwell's network of businesses is remembered as one the most important businesses in America at the time, but freeway construction and national chains finally drove Barthwell Drugs out of business. His last store closed in 1987.
