George and Nettie Jordan have been partners in life for close to 70 years, and for 35 years, they were partners in one of the most successful businesses in the heart of Seattle’s Central Area. The long time owners of Jordan’s Drugs and Grocery were recently recognized by the King County Council for their half-century of work and support in the neighborhood they still call home.
“George and Nettie Jordan have been one of the bedrocks of the Central Area, through their store and their support of numerous activities and programs,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, the sponsor of the recognition. “This is a well-deserved recognition for the impact they had on Seattle’s African-American community.”
George Jordan is one of the first African-American graduates of the University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy, and after working at Boeing, Nettie enrolled in and graduated from the Columbus Hospital School of Nursing. Together they opened Jordan’s Drug and Grocery at 2518 E. Cherry Street.
For 35 years, Jordan’s became a one-stop shop for people throughout the Central Area and Greater Seattle. School kids from Garfield went to Jordan’s to get snacks and African Americans throughout Seattle knew they could get their prescriptions filled at Jordan’s, which at the time was the city’s only African-American owned pharmacy.
The success of Jordan’s allowed George and Nettie to be supporters and contributors to a number of civil right causes throughout the Central Area.
The Jordans sold the pharmacy in 1999, but continue to be active members of the Central Area.
