A historic building in Lexington's East End neighborhood, has reopened as a United Way point center.

It serves as a one stop shop for people to access financial support and social services.

But before changing hands several times, the building on Fifth Street was home to Palmer's pharmacy, the first black owned Rexall pharmacy in the U.S., which opened during segregation.

United Way leaders say they hope to continue the tradition of service.

Dr. Palmer provided his customers and neighbors.

And I'm thrilled to welcome you all here today.

The ribbon cutting and the grand opening of our new flagship center, the Malmesbury Family Waypoint Center at the historic Palmer Pharmacy.

Knowing the origins of this center, this building really being a one of two pharmacy buildings owned by Dr.

Zero.

Palmer Senior, one of the first black pharmacies in Lexington.

This was a hub of activity and resources in the community and we want to restore that.

This building has been empty for a long time, for many, many years.

And now that you know where the blue grass has been given this building, our hope is that it again will become sort of a bustling hub of activity and helping families in the East End and throughout Lexington get on a pathway to thriving.

You know, you always have what you call landmark buildings.

This is one of them.

These are all Palmer was a pharmacist.

He was not a native Kentuckian, but he chose to come to Kentucky and settle in Lexington to open a pharmacy.

Very prominent people in the community have talked about going in the pharmacy building not only to buy drugs for their medical care, but also to participate and sit in and talk to each other at the lunch counter, we said.

And we were the first people to sit at this counter drinking coffee.

Dr.

Zero family was likely to offer that companionship and various points of reference throughout her.

They also have talked about Mr. Palmer and his advocacy for health care for African-Americans.

He became a big man because of his passion and his understanding that you have to reach back, you have to give back if you are privileged.

It's up to you to give back to your community.

This is what he did here in Lexington.

We want people to come in, come into the center, and be able to receive all types of resources from help with their taxes to learning how to use a budget for their family to make great decisions.

You know, really becoming financially empowered and mobile to be able to reach that that point of success for themselves.

So we feel like our role is to be a convener, a collaborator and catalyst for community action.

That's what this pharmacy once was for.

Dr. Palmer, and we feel that it's an honor for United Way to be able to sort of pick up that mantle and honor the namesake by continuing on that role of being a community resource for not only folks in the East End, but all across Lexington.

You look at these buildings being one of conquered portion.

You took the loan next, this campus here did not support like this ever come this L-shaped one third is going to be a big.

Yeah well structured help is very important.

We'll start with you.