Located at 141 Main Street, Francis B. Colman (b. 1819) opened the Francis Colman, Druggist store in 1871. His son Howard Gordon Colman (b. Nov. 1846) worked as a clerk there. In 1876, the store was renamed F. Colman and Son and they advertised as “proprietors of the peoples drugs store, wholesale and retail dealers in pure drugs, medicines, paints, oils, glass and fancy goods.” In 1881, another partner joined the store, Charles E. Fisher. Fisher remained a partner until 1885, when Francis Colman’s younger son Hutson (b. 1855) also became a partner in the store. It was then renamed F. Colman and Sons. In 1887 the drugstore moved from 141 Main Street to 123 West Main. By 1893, Francis Colman had died and the store was renamed Colman Bros. and Co. as it was owned by Howard, Hutson and their younger sister Helen (Colman) Eaton (b. 1860) of Rockford, Illinois.

In 1893, Howard also became the secretary and treasurer of the Zoa Phora Medicine Co. Zoa Phora (formerly known as "Woman's Friend") was a medicine made in Kalamazoo that claimed to cure all complaints which were "peculiar to the female economy."

In 1899, Hutson Colman left the company and the operation continued under Howard their sister Helen. The name of the company was changed at that time to H.G. Colman and Co. However, by 1901 Helen had also dropped out as a partner and the store became the H.G. Colman Company. The name was changed again in 1902 to the H.G. Colman Drug Company.

Howard Colman died on May 21, 1907. At that time Cornelius J. Manningh took over as acting president. Manningh ran the H.G. Colman Drug Co. until 1913, when Howard’s son Francis Howell Colman (9/24/1884-9/13/1942) took control of the operation.

In 1929, the H.G. Colman Drug Co. moved downtown to 145 West Michigan Avenue. By 1937, it was relocated to 136 South Burdick Street and called Coleman’s Pharmacy. 1937 was the last year that the pharmacy could be found in Kalamazoo city directories.