CO Bigelow Apothecaries

New York, United States

4.2

Open now

24 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 800-793-5433
Website:
www.cobigelow.com
Address:
414 6th Ave, New York, NY, 10011
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
130 ft9th Street (PATH)
0.2 miChristopher Street-Sheridan Square (1)
0.2 miWest 4th Street-Washington Square (A,B,C,D,E,F,M)
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Apple Pay
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Dogs Allowed
Yes
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Open now
Local time (New York) 18:09 Thursday, 19 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 8:30 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Description

Specialties

Established in 1838 C.O. Bigelow is the nation’s oldest apothecary. A pharmacy in the traditional sense but the downtown mecca for all things beauty. A selection of our own C.O. Bigelow Brand of beauty and personal care products as well as a collection of our favorite things… the best beauty and personal care products from around the world.

History

Established in 1838.

Our Apothecary was established in Greenwich Village in 1838. C.O. Bigelow is not only a place to pick up your hand-​made prescriptions but also a favorite neighborhood gathering place and provider of unique and unusual personal care remedies.

As the oldest apothecary in America, we have been able to keep our apothecary traditions alive in today’s modern society. For nearly two centuries we have served some of the country’s most prominent personalities and have remained true to our traditions, transporting customers back to a time and place of personalized attention, customized formulas and healing, therapeutic natural preparations.

We take pride in our commitment to our customers through honesty, quality and tradition. We greatly value your trust, friendship and patronage, and welcome you to experience our world at C.O. Bigelow.

The family and staff of C.O. Bigelow

Meet the Business Owner

Ian G.

Business Owner

Ian Ginsberg, proprietor of C.O. Bigelow, the oldest Apothecary in America, has kept the historic Apothecary tradition alive in today’s modern society. The store’s unrivaled selection of American and European luxury beauty products is a result of Ian’s extensive beauty knowledge and ability to spot key trends.

Ian scours the globe to orchestrate a supreme collection of beauty imports such as Marvis toothpaste from Italy and La Crème Opalis from France. Luxury products like Kajame L’essence du bien etre to Dr. Harris’ Triple Rose Water Lotion validate the C.O. Bigelow slogan, «If you can’t find it anywhere else, try Bigelow.»

Hailed by WWD as «The Apothecary Guru», Ian’s historic and constantly evolving knowledge of what a true Apothecary should be is unrivaled. Ian has documented hundreds of original C.O. Bigelow Apothecary bottles, packaging, artifacts and ledger books dating back to 1838. Ian’s dream was to use this knowledge to one day create an apothecary line of products.

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24 reviews of CO Bigelow Apothecaries

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Place rating: 5
West Kensington, London, United Kingdom
Really love this place! The sales here are very helpful, went in for something to help reduce redness of the skin, and the sales person directed me an Italian brand which I am now completely in love with! Also when I found some gifts for my friends, the sales gift wrapped them so beautifully and then informed me they can ship the gift to their house directly! (Free shipping with purchase of $ 50 and above). It was an amazing discovery that they do shipping, saved me so much time running to the post office. Also the rage of products here are great. Yes, they are not cheap, but worth it as they do have some of the best products in the world.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
I haven’t been here many times, but each time has been a pleasant experience. A sort of old-​fashioned, throwback atmosphere with many high quality and hard-​to-​find-​elsewhere cosmetics. The few times I’ve been here, the ladies behind the counter were helpful and friendly.
Between this place and bluemercury a few doors away, this block can pretty much take care of just about every cosmetic need I have.
Place rating: 4
Washington, DC
Good: wonderful historic building with great old tiling on the floor and wooden shelves. Fun to shop at a place with such a long history, and their selection reflects that. They offer lots of products that make you feel like a Victorian lady doing her regular shopping, as well as plenty of modern stuff. And they have testers for the fancy hand creams, which is nice.
Not great: many of the products have no price labels. I left having bought nothing because after seeing five or six things I wanted with no price tag or shelf label, I gave up. Didn’t want to take a whole rack of stuff over to the staff and ask about things one by one. Makes it easy to pass up things you don’t actually NEED, but it’s a puzzling sales tactic. Maybe they sell people more if they don’t know how much the items cost, but that doesn’t work on me.
I liked the place, I just wish the browsing experience had been less frustrating.
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
The best pharmacy in New York City. Hands down. It’s been here forever. My dad’s first job was here. Legendary clientele. A lot of history. Great custom soaps, fragrances, and everything for colds to serious care, knowledge pharmacists as it should be. Take good care of yourself go to bigelow pharmacy.
Perfect medicine for body and soul in NYC.
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
Doesn’t get better than this pharmacy.
Place rating: 5
Trumbull, CT
Absolutely love this place!
So happy I found this hidden gem.
Went in for the first time yesterday.
It’s the oldest pharmacy around.
It offers everything from medication, to awesome makeup, a huge variety lotions, creams, hair/​facial/​body care products to unique gifts.
It’s one stop shopping!
You can’t go wrong here. It has something for everyone and any age!
I love Cecilia who works at the makeup counter.
She is the real deal! She knows her products!
I really would recommend going to her.
She is professional, knowledgable and very friendly.
She truly was a big help! She is such an asset to the store. We will be back to see her!
Place rating: 4
New York, NY
I had no idea that CO Bigelow was bigger than bath and body works. But boy was I wrong…
I used to just buy the lip gloss and soap at bath and body works… but this place has about 10 different flavors (smells?) of CO Bigelow products! And its all very well stocked. They also have a really wide array of high end beauty products (aka bumble and bumble). the prices are pretty on par with salon prices. so not necessarily getting a price save but this place definitely has a leg up when it comes to being so well stocked.
The service is hit or miss… some of them ask if they can help and some you have to wave your hands at while standing at the counter for a few minutes asking if you can pay for your grapefruit scented lotions so you can leave.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
C.O. Bigelow is amazing! They make awesome products, and I buy the lip shine for my partner because it feels nice to kiss :-)
The staff is lovely and they helped me find other brands that were just right for me. Thank you!
Place rating: 5
Manhattan, NY
It seems as if I cannot step past Bigelow’s without wanting to wander their aisles. Their buyers or managers carefully select all sorts of items that reflect a certain hip New York — cool with quality. It makes shopping a joy because they have done the product homework for me.
About every 4 months, I cannot resist purchasing a new Ficcare hair clip. They are pricey but beautiful to look at and they do hold your tresses in place. Last week, a spring broke on my blue-​green one (a fave!). This never happened before… so I called the store wondering if they could recommend a repair shop and they told me to come into the store. Diane helped me today and, after consulting with her manager, they promised me a replacement or store credit. FANTASTIC SERVICE! They looked for an exact match but I was happy to simply take a new color instead.
I will check back and replace my fave Ficcare from Bigelow’s and continue to walk-​in and browse to be tempted. Thank you Diane. Thank you Bigelow’s!
Place rating: 5
Westport, CT
Insane diversity of options and even if you know what you want and are time crunched this is simply overwhelming. I liked the kitty cat roaming around and plethora of options for gifts as well as self indulging purchases but the historical value alone was worth stopping in for. A classic NYC stop if in the area.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
I live in the neighborhood and love it here. They have my Jane Iredale makeup which is hard to find in stores. They also have some of the best beauty products all in this one pretty small store. I can see some reviews state their unfriendly customer service but I’ve always found it to be great. I was in here last week and the lady who helped me asked if I needed anything else– I told her «I wish I could buy the whole store;» she laughed and when she rung me up she handed me a sample size lip balm to make me feel better!
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
I love that CO Bigelow is both a working pharmacy and extremely well-​stocked with the best beauty/​bath/​toiletry brands you can think of. Every shelf is packed with awesome (though expensive) items with alluring packaging, sometimes not even in English. I’m a complete drug store addict (emphasis on STORE) so I was in heaven.
Everything from Marvis toothpaste to Smith and Cult nail polish and of course their entire line of CO Bigelow products, which in the past I’ve only seen at Bath and Body Works (and I refuse to go in there because of the overwhelming smells) and in hotel bathrooms. It’s a good mid-​priced line of pretty good quality products in nice scents.
I noticed that many other reviews have mentioned unfriendly service. Though I was just browsing around, I did notice that the lady behind the counter seemed to make a point of not saying hello or asking if I needed anything. So if I had a question or needed help with anything, I’m not sure that CO Bigelow is the first place I’d go, but if I want to look at and buy beautiful things, this is my place.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
Love it. Interesting smaller label colognes and perfumes in old-​fashioned bottles… Always see something different or intriguing or fun there. Last time I got sky blue nail polish and old-​style liquorice toothpaste.
Like others have said, it feels good when possible to support a store that has been around a long time and doesn’t even aspire to be Duane Reade or Sephora.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
This was my first (and last) time I have shopped at Bigelow. I purchased around $ 110 worth of products. Half which was a gift. The gift didn’t work out so I wanted to return around $ 65 of the products which I didn’t have use for.
Imagine the worst, pretentious perfume/​cosmetics sales ladies you can and then take them from a department store and stuff them into a small square in the middle of a pharmacy– that’s this store.
I had everything laid out with the four items, not used, barely even touched; I assumed it would be a simple transaction. The younger girl at the counter was totally clueless and randomly checked the hair product I bought and said I had used it, I explained I didn’t, which turned into a back and forth about how she can give me a gift card and said is that alright. No– it wasn’t. She asked her manager and she said she will allow me to return it. (note: I had other liquid products which she didn’t even check.) She said when I shop there again I need to inspect the items before purchasing them. Honestly? No.
Next the issue was that I had paid in the mysterious unknown form of Cash. The associate said she doesn’t know that even if I paid in this cash form, if she could refund me in said cash. The manager said of course she can. (Dear God. Help.) Next thing I know the girl disappears and a manager and a new associate had to literally go over my receipt and inspect it and make notes and I presume write a thesis afterwards. (Another note: The woman who sold me the items charged twice for one bumble and bumble product, assuming they were the same price, which they weren’t (one was cheaper) so that was obviously a thing as well.)
Overall, I got my money back but left feeling embarrassed, bad and as if I was some kind of imbecile because I dare return items.
Nightmare.
On a positive note– it is a cute store and has a good selection. Maybe I just ended up coming during a bad zone.
***Update– The owner of the store wrote me a genuine and thoughtful email in regards to the situation. It definitely changed my mind and experience with the store. I’ll give it another try since it’s a small business, the owner seems like an honest, decent person and, as said, the products are nicely curated and it is quintessential New York– we should support it.
Place rating: 4
Medford, MA
Came in here not expecting to see such a large selection of products! You can spend hours in here, as there are so many treasures to discover, even brands I have never hear of before. I had been searching for the C.O. Bigelow Mentha Body Wash forever and was pleasantly surprised walking down 6th Ave to find this store!
Wish they had more of these not only in the city, but also in other states!
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
I’ve been a customer here for 30 years. But that’s about to end. The «help» has become rude, uncaring and ill informed. Very different from what they used to be. They often make mistakes„ send the wrong number of pills and apparently think hanging up on a customer is clever. I’ve stayed with them
until now out of loyalty even though it would cost me less to shop elsewhere or by mail, which is what I will do now. One of the many people who claimed to be the manager today made it clear that she did not care if I took my business elsewhere. Thats exactly what I am going to do. She needs to concentrate on selling lip gloss. I believe her personality and intelligence is more suited to something like that.
Error in stars. They should have none.
Place rating: 4
Manhattan, NY
When mom wants overpriced french lotion for her birthday, she gets it. According to my sister, this particular brand isn’t sold in the USA. I found that peculiar and decided to do some research. In a google search that took 0.29 seconds, I found this brand at CO Bigelow only. Who woulda’ thought?
The store is easy to access and navigate. I couldn’t see myself shopping here regularly because the prices are $ 1 – 2 more here versus duane reade or sephora. However, they do have a $ 10 off $ 50 purchase with a Unilocal check in. They have everything from toothpaste to Bumble and Bumble hair products so there is something for everyone.
Thanks to CO Bigelow, mom got her lotion and I saved the day :)
Place rating: 3
New York, NY
I love the CO Bigelow products in Bath and Body Works, so I made a special trip, but they do not have any additional products.
I was going to repurchase one of my favor chapsticks, but the woman at the counter was too busy to even acknowledge me.
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
I always thought that CO Bigelow was just at product line sold at Bath & Body Works. Eeep, my bad. Turns out, this is the oldest Apothecary in America? Pretty rad.
Located near the Village, this drugstore is more Sephora than CVS. There’s almost every type of high-​end beauty product for sale, and the counter staff was very friendly.
I was actually there to pick up some drugs (…calm down, the legally prescribed ones) and passed the time easily scanning all the awesome stuff for purchase. Lots of fun make-​up, jewelry, hair accessories — you name it. Cool products for the guys, too!
Place rating: 4
Charlotte, NC
Can’t miss! All sorts of high end and regular drug store brands. Very helpful customer service and lots of oddities to see. I love that the pharmacy is old but has all types of products from Europe and the U.S. They’re not just what you see at Bath and Body Works!
Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY
A haven for product junkies! While, yes… it IS a pharmacy it has one of the most extensive collection of drugstore, niche and popular brands crammed into one location. The shelves are packed with goodies waiting to be discovered and the sales rep usually leave you alone but are more than willing to help. Every time, I visit the store I walk out with a small fortune of products. My only qualm, is that some of the items that are not as popular has small layer of dust. Which is why I tend to stay away from those products because they might be past their prime.
Place rating: 5
Berlin
Ich liebe diesen Laden. Wenn man reinkommt, fühlt man sich sofort willkommen. Man kann auch allein alles anschauen und ausprobieren und wird nicht ständig belagert, was in Amerika nicht sehr oft der Fall ist. Braucht man Hilfe, ist stets jemand da, der einem gerne berät. Die Auswahl ist riesig und die Preise für NYC normal. Ich hab zuvor ein paar Preise verglichen und habe dort keine teureren Preise gesehen. Zb. kosten Diptyque Kerzen genauso viel wie auch in den Diptyque Stores… genauso wie Klorane Produkte oder die von Fresh. Bei Bigelow gibt es von normalen Drogerie Marken bis hin zu schwer zu beziehenden, europäischen Labels alles was das Beauty– Herz begehrt. Zu meinem 70 $ Einkauf gabs noch einige Abfüllungen und Proben dazu. Bei meinem nächsten NYC Besuch werde ich auf jeden Fall wieder zu Bigelow gehen.
Place rating: 4
Wauwatosa, WI
For a little while, Bigelow was opening franchises in different malls across the country — pretty sure all those stores have now closed but the flagship remains open, which is cool.
This location reminds me a lot of Mertz’s Apothecary in Chicago — there are obscure European brands, high end boutique fragrances and candles, shaving stuff for the mens, tons of bath products and some things you’ve never heard of. In addition, they sell accessories, have a full service pharmacy counter and stock essentials in addition to the fancy stuff.
If you’re overwhelmed by the selection, their house brand of products is good quality at a reasonable price point. You can also buy their branded products at most Bath & Body Works stores too if you’re not close to a Bigelow or don’t want to order on line.
I’m a bath & body junkie, so places like this make me very happy!
Los Angeles, CA
Just had really disappointing service. The man who helped me at the pharmacy began helping another customer in the middle of our transaction — the customer appeared to be a regular who he was familiar with. There shouldn’t be a hierarchy of service bested on whether or not the customer has been a customer for a certain period of time. The man was also rude when he checked me out. He said something about my medication in very vague terms and as I asked him to clarify to clarify he repeated the same vague sentence multiple times and acted aggravated that I was still unsure of what he was saying. I’ve had good service from two other pharmacy staff members but this man may have made me into an ex-​customer. Left feeling unhappy and sad.