Pelham Joseph Robinson, Sr. (1907-1991) was a prominent Black businessman whose fortunes rose and fell with the African American community of Mill Creek Valley. He was born in 1907 in the St. Louis suburb of Normandy to William C. and Luella Robinson, transplants from St. Genevieve, Missouri. A lifelong Catholic, he attended St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in the Mill Creek Valley neighborhood and graduated from Sumner High School. Upon graduation, Father Markoe helped him gain admission to Creighton University where he received his pharmaceutical training. He worked briefly as a Pullman porter before returning to St. Louis and opening his first drug store at 3150 Laclede in 1930. Over the next two decades, his business grew to an estimated ten drug stores, earning him the nickname “the Black Walgreens.” Four of those stores were in Mill Creek, his base of operations, with additional locations in Kinloch and several other Black neighborhoods in the city. Addresses included 15 North Jefferson and 2844 Market. In 1946, he acquired the Douglas Drug Store at 3339 Laclede, previously owned by another Black business titan, Harry Douglas, the founder of Belva Manufacturing.

In addition to his business dealings, Pelham Robinson was civically engaged and socially active. He was a board member of New Age Federal Savings and Loan, a Black bank dating to 1915; first vice president of People’s Hospital; a member of Chi Delta Mu, a professional medical fraternity; and active in the Mound City Pharmaceutical Association. In addition, he was the National Regional Director of the National Pharmaceutical Association. He was also an early member of the Royal Vagabonds, a social club founded by Black professionals that had its initial meetings in the People’s Finance Building.

In 1942, Pelham married Antoinette “Toney” Cousandra Banks (1916-1996), daughter of Taylor and Rosie Banks. They had two children, Pelham Joseph Robinson, Jr. (born July 1943), who later served as St. Louis City Registrar, and Janessa Antoinette Robinson Herron (born November 1944).

Toney was as civically and socially active as her husband, working with the March of Dimes, the Red Cross, the United Way, the NAACP, and serving as an officer of the Chi Delta Mu Wives, a board member of the Urban League, secretary of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, and a founder of the Ladies Auxiliary of Father Dunne’s Newsboys Home. She was also a charter member of the St. Louis chapter of Jack and Jill of America, an invitation-only leadership organization for Black mothers and their children. She later served as General Chairman and National Treasurer for the national Jack and Jill organization.

The Robinson family faced upheaval in 1959 when, in the name of urban renewal, large-scale demolition of Mill Creek Valley began. Janessa Robinson recalled that her father had warned the family that it was possible that tough times were ahead, and belt-tightening was in order. The demolition led to the displacement and destruction of over 800 businesses and 20,000 residents, including Robinson’s four flagship stores. He never recovered from the loss of these stores; by 1961, he owed hefty back taxes on his Jefferson location, which had ceased to operate, and on his Kinloch location.

During this period, Pelham and Toney separated. In 1963, Pelham Robinson left St. Louis for Chicago, where he hoped for a fresh start. Pelham worked as a pharmacist in Chicago until his retirement in 1984, but he was never able to recreate the success he found in Mill Creek Valley. In 1979, Pelham married Eliza Mae Henderson. After his retirement, Pelham and Eliza moved to East Chicago, Indiana, where he died in 1991.

Toney Robinson remained a lifelong resident of St. Louis. During the 1960s and 1970s, Toney worked as a receptionist in the circuit attorney’s office. Later she became active in politics, serving as 17th ward commiteewoman from 1984 until shortly before her death in 1996.