Apotheke zur Mariahilf

Apotheke zur Mariahilf (literally 'Pharmacy at Mariahilf') is a long-established community pharmacy located in Simmering, the 11th district of Vienna, Austria. According to the pharmacy's own history, it was the first pharmacy to open in Simmering: on 8 May 1843 the district authority of Bruck an der Leitha granted Dr. Wenzel Sedlitzky permission to open a pharmacy at Simmeringer Hauptstraße 81 under the name 'Zur Mariahilf'. The pharmacy has therefore been part of the district's everyday life for well over a century and a half. The business is a classic full-service Apotheke rather than a manufacturing brand. Its website presents a broad range of goods and services: prescription and over-the-counter medicines, food supplements and micronutrients marketed for vitality and well-being, dermocosmetics for facial and body care, and a customer loyalty 'Gesundheitskarte' (health card) with bonus benefits. The pharmacy also highlights advisory specialisms including micronutrients, aromatherapy, Bach flower therapy, Schüssler salts and cosmetics, delivered by pharmacists and pharmaceutical-commercial assistants. The pharmacy is led by pharmacist Hannes Hrovat, who is named on the homepage as 'Ihr Apotheker' and welcomes visitors together with the team. Ownership has changed hands several times over the decades: after Dr. Sedlitzky, the pharmacy passed through various owners before Magister Franz Schweder took it over in 1890; after his death in 1910 his widow continued the business under the management of Magister Rudolf Kleiber; and in 1920 their son, Magister Franz Schweder junior, took over the family operation. The pharmacy survived the upheavals of the Second World War in Vienna and continues to operate today. As a local pharmacy, Apotheke zur Mariahilf competes on personal service, expert advice and proximity to its neighbourhood rather than on national brand reach. Its online presence is used mainly to communicate opening offers, seasonal promotions (for example a 15% discount on dermocosmetics during autumn facial-care weeks) and health information such as articles on vitamin B and immune-system tips. It is a private, independent business and is not part of a listed corporate group.

The history of Apotheke zur Mariahilf is documented on the pharmacy's own website. On 8 May 1843 the competent district authority of Bruck an der Leitha granted Dr. Wenzel Sedlitzky permission to open the first pharmacy in Simmering, at Simmeringer Hauptstraße 81, under the name 'Zur Mariahilf'. This makes it the oldest pharmacy in the district. After several changes of ownership, Magister Franz Schweder took over the pharmacy in 1890, following his marriage to Mathilde Walsch, the widow of the previous owner Bernhard Walsch. Schweder was a highly respected pharmacist who had worked in Simmering for twenty years; he died of a heart condition on 1 June 1910. His widow continued to run the pharmacy under the management of Magister Rudolf Kleiber. On 8 October 1920, after completing his studies, the son of the deceased, Magister Franz Schweder junior, took over his father's business. The pharmacy's own account notes that it survived the 'days of horror' during the liberation of Vienna in 1945, although the published text is truncated at that point. The pharmacy continues to operate in Simmering today. Its modern identity combines traditional community pharmacy services with a contemporary product mix: medicines, food supplements and micronutrients, dermocosmetics, aromatherapy, Bach flower therapy and Schüssler salts. The current pharmacist, Hannes Hrovat, is presented on the website as the welcoming face of the business, supported by a team of pharmacists and pharmaceutical-commercial assistants. The pharmacy also runs a customer loyalty programme, the Gesundheitskarte, and uses its website and newsletter to promote seasonal offers and health education content.

• 1945

  The pharmacy survives the upheavals of the liberation of Vienna.

• 1920

  On 8 October, Magister Franz Schweder junior, son of the deceased, takes over the family business after completing his studies.

• 1910

  Magister Franz Schweder dies of a heart condition on 1 June; his widow continues the business under the management of Magister Rudolf Kleiber.

• 1890

  After several changes of ownership, Magister Franz Schweder takes over the pharmacy following his marriage to Mathilde Walsch, widow of the previous owner Bernhard Walsch.

• 1843

  On 8 May, Dr. Wenzel Sedlitzky receives permission from the district authority of Bruck an der Leitha to open the first pharmacy in Simmering, named 'Zur Mariahilf', at Simmeringer Hauptstraße 81.

A trusted, long-established neighbourhood pharmacy in Simmering, Vienna, competing on personal advice and specialist knowledge in medicines, micronutrients and cosmetics.

• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines

• Food supplements and micronutrients

• Dermocosmetics for facial and body care

• Aromatherapy products

• Bach flower remedies

• Schüssler salts

1. 1Apotheke Zur Mariahilf – Homepagemariahilfapo.at
2. 2ÜBER UNS | Apotheke Zur Mariahilfmariahilfapo.at
3. 3Apotheke zur Mariahilf – Wikidatawikidata.org