The living legacy of Minneapolis pharmacist Tom Sengupta

A Minneapolis drug store owner who's a legend in his own right is starting a new chapter in life. For more than 40 years Tom Sengupta has been manning the pharmacy at Schneider drug store on University Avenue in Minneapolis, serving customers who quickly became friends.

He will be retiring at the end of the month to deal with some health issues, but he's making sure the business he built is here to stay.

It's been nearly 43 years after buying his drug store in the Minneapolis prospect park neighborhood, and there's a lot of work to be done telling all the regulars that he's leaving. More than just making a living, he's spent four decades also working to make a difference.

"I ran this thing as making people's life a little easier," Sengupta said. "More of a service center than a business."

His throwback of a shop is known as much for dispensing progressive politics as it is pharmaceuticals. It's known for attracting heavy hitting political figures to join in his semi-regular after-hours discussion with focus of reasoned debate, rather than partisan bickering.

Sengupta has hosted over two decades of organized political and social discussions and debates, always conducted with reason and civility.

As recognition, the Minneapolis City Council declared this day, Jan. 16, to be Tom Sengupta Day throughout the city.

He's retiring to fight two different cancers doctors found in November, and will have surgery on his esophageal cancer. Sengupta then plans to focus his attention on his project to build a monument to the common man, which in many ways is what his store already is.