Wes and Ann Jesperson started out as franchise owners of a five and dime Ben Franklin store in 1964. Back then, Duncanville was too small for a major chain, but the couple knew it needed a more modern and well-stocked store. Like any classic five and dime, they sold everything from fabrics to candy to general household items. In 1969, the couple purchased a new building on Main Street in the heart of downtown Duncanville after their original location was bought out for construction on what would become Interstate 20. Over the years, many expansions were made to the store in response to growing business, and additions like Kitchen’s Deli and a complete pharmacy operated by the couple’s son, Dan, only added to the growth. After the demise of their parent company, the couple changed the store’s name to Ben Franklin Apothecary, and in 1999, Dan purchased the business and became its new owner. Today, Dan’s kids can be seen running the store, attending to locals who stop in often for specialty sandwiches and old-fashioned sodas.